Zhang Yanping, Huang Yixin, Dong Yu, Liu Xiaoyu, Kou Xiaochen, Zhao Yanhong, Zhao Anqi, Sun Jiatong, Su Zhongqu, Li Zongyu, Zhang Huan, Li Yunwei, Cao Shuyuan, Wei Junhao, Yin Jiqing, Kang Lan, Gao Yawei, Chen Jiayu, Wang Yixuan, Li Chong, Gao Rui, Wang Hong, Gao Shaorong, Le Rongrong
Clinical and Translational Research Center of Shanghai First Maternity & Infant Hospital, Frontier Science Center for Stem Cell Research, School of Life Sciences and Technology, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China.
Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Shanghai East Hospital, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Signaling and Disease Research, School of Life Sciences and Technology, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China.
Stem Cell Reports. 2021 Mar 9;16(3):458-469. doi: 10.1016/j.stemcr.2021.01.020. Epub 2021 Feb 25.
A small subgroup of embryonic stem cells (ESCs) exhibit molecular features similar to those of two-cell embryos (2C). However, it remains elusive whether 2C-like cells and 2C embryos share similar epigenetic features. Here, we map the genome-wide profiles of histone H3K4me3 and H3K27me3 in 2C-like cells. We found that the majority of genes in 2C-like cells inherit their histone status from ESCs. Among the genes showing a switch in their histone methylation status during 2C-like transitions, only a small number acquire 2C-embryo epigenetic signatures. In contrast, broad H3K4me3 domains display extensive loss in 2C-like cells. Most of the differentially expressed genes display decreased H3K4me3 and H3K27me3 levels in 2C-like cells, whereas de novo H3K4me3 deposition is closely linked with the expression levels of upregulated 2C-specific genes. Taken together, our study reveals the unique epigenetic profiles of 2C-like cells, facilitating the further exploration of totipotency in the future.
一小部分胚胎干细胞（ESC）表现出与二细胞胚胎（2C）相似的分子特征。然而，2C样细胞和2C胚胎是否具有相似的表观遗传特征仍不清楚。在此，我们绘制了2C样细胞中组蛋白H3K4me3和H3K27me3的全基因组图谱。我们发现，2C样细胞中的大多数基因从胚胎干细胞继承其组蛋白状态。在2C样转变过程中组蛋白甲基化状态发生改变的基因中，只有少数获得2C胚胎的表观遗传特征。相反，广泛的H3K4me3结构域在2C样细胞中显示出广泛缺失。大多数差异表达基因在2C样细胞中显示H3K4me3和H3K27me3水平降低，而新生H3K4me3沉积与上调的2C特异性基因的表达水平密切相关。综上所述，我们的研究揭示了2C样细胞独特的表观遗传图谱，有助于未来对全能性的进一步探索。
