The chromodomain helicase Chd4 is required for Polycomb-mediated inhibition of astroglial differentiation

Research output: Contribution to journalJournal articleResearchpeer-review

  • Anke Sparmann
  • Yunli Xie
  • Els Verhoeven
  • Michiel Vermeulen
  • Cesare Lancini
  • Gaetano Gargiulo
  • Danielle Hulsman
  • Mann, Matthias
  • Juergen A Knoblich
  • Maarten van Lohuizen
Polycomb group (PcG) proteins form transcriptional repressor complexes with well-established functions during cell-fate determination. Yet, the mechanisms underlying their regulation remain poorly understood. Here, we extend the role of Polycomb complexes in the temporal control of neural progenitor cell (NPC) commitment by demonstrating that the PcG protein Ezh2 is necessary to prevent the premature onset of gliogenesis. In addition, we identify the chromodomain helicase DNA-binding protein 4 (Chd4) as a critical interaction partner of Ezh2 required specifically for PcG-mediated suppression of the key astrogenic marker gene GFAP. Accordingly, in vivo depletion of Chd4 in the developing neocortex promotes astrogenesis. Collectively, these results demonstrate that PcG proteins operate in a highly dynamic, developmental stage-dependent fashion during neural differentiation and suggest that target gene-specific mechanisms regulate Polycomb function during sequential cell-fate decisions.
Original languageEnglish
JournalE M B O Journal
Volume32
Issue number11
Pages (from-to)1598-612
Number of pages15
ISSN0261-4189
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 29 May 2013
Externally publishedYes

    Research areas

  • Animals, Astrocytes, Cell Differentiation, Cell Line, Chromatin Immunoprecipitation, DNA Helicases, Embryo, Mammalian, Female, Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental, Histones, Mice, Mice, Inbred C57BL, Nerve Tissue Proteins, Neural Stem Cells, Nuclear Proteins, Polycomb Repressive Complex 2, Polycomb-Group Proteins, Pregnancy, Promoter Regions, Genetic

ID: 88584618