The RNA exosome nuclease complex regulates human embryonic stem cell differentiation

We report that the surveillance pathway mediated by the RNA exosome nuclease complex represses ESC differentiation. Depletion of the exosome expedites differentiation of human ESCs into all three germ layers. LINE-1 retrotransposons and specific miRNAs, lncRNAs, and mRNAs that encode developmental regulators or affect their expression are all bound by the exosome and increase in level upon exosome depletion. The exosome restrains differentiation in part by degrading transcripts encoding FOXH1, a transcription factor crucial for mesendoderm formation. Our studies establish the exosome as a regulator of human ESC differentiation and reveal the importance of RNA decay in maintaining pluripotency.

Source: Journal of Cell Biology - August 4, 2019 Category: Cytology Authors: Belair, C., Sim, S., Kim, K.-Y., Tanaka, Y., Park, I.-H., and, Wolin, S. L. Tags: Stem Cells, RNA Biology, Development Articles Source Type: research