Changing POU dimerization preferences converts Oct6 into a pluripotency inducer

EMBO Rep. 2017 Feb;18(2):319-333. doi: 10.15252/embr.201642958. Epub 2016 Dec 22.

Abstract

The transcription factor Oct4 is a core component of molecular cocktails inducing pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs), while other members of the POU family cannot replace Oct4 with comparable efficiency. Rather, group III POU factors such as Oct6 induce neural lineages. Here, we sought to identify molecular features determining the differential DNA-binding and reprogramming activity of Oct4 and Oct6. In enhancers of pluripotency genes, Oct4 cooperates with Sox2 on heterodimeric SoxOct elements. By re-analyzing ChIP-Seq data and performing dimerization assays, we found that Oct6 homodimerizes on palindromic OctOct more cooperatively and more stably than Oct4. Using structural and biochemical analyses, we identified a single amino acid directing binding to the respective DNA elements. A change in this amino acid decreases the ability of Oct4 to generate iPSCs, while the reverse mutation in Oct6 does not augment its reprogramming activity. Yet, with two additional amino acid exchanges, Oct6 acquires the ability to generate iPSCs and maintain pluripotency. Together, we demonstrate that cell type-specific POU factor function is determined by select residues that affect DNA-dependent dimerization.

Keywords: DNA binding; Oct4; POU factors; reprogramming to pluripotency.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acid Substitution
  • Animals
  • Binding Sites
  • Cell Line
  • Cell Transdifferentiation / genetics*
  • Cellular Reprogramming / genetics*
  • Embryonic Stem Cells
  • Enhancer Elements, Genetic
  • Epigenesis, Genetic
  • Humans
  • Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells / cytology
  • Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells / metabolism
  • Mice
  • Models, Molecular
  • Nucleotide Motifs
  • Octamer Transcription Factors / chemistry
  • Octamer Transcription Factors / genetics
  • Octamer Transcription Factors / metabolism
  • Organic Cation Transport Proteins / genetics*
  • Organic Cation Transport Proteins / metabolism*
  • POU Domain Factors / chemistry*
  • POU Domain Factors / genetics
  • POU Domain Factors / metabolism*
  • Promoter Regions, Genetic
  • Protein Binding
  • Protein Conformation
  • Protein Multimerization*
  • Protein Stability
  • Transcriptome

Substances

  • Octamer Transcription Factors
  • Organic Cation Transport Proteins
  • POU Domain Factors
  • SLC22A16 protein, human