MSc Exit Seminar – Priscilla Tang (Varmuza lab)

MSc Exit Seminar

Friday September 16^th, 12:30 pm – Earth Sciences Centre, Rm. 3087

Priscilla Tang (Varmuza lab)

“SFMBT2 Function in Chromatin Architecture Mediates Trophoblast Stem Cell Maintenance“

Abstract

The mammalian Polycomb Group (PcG) gene Sfmbt2 is implicated in embryonic viability specifically through the maintenance of the trophoblast stem (TS) cells and their contribution to development of the placenta.  Despite its critical role in placental development, mechanisms underlying SFMBT2 function are still unknown.  To elucidate the regulatory role SFMBT2 plays in TS cell maintenance, I performed ChIP-seq analyses against endogenous and FLAG-SFMBT2.  Additionally, I analyzed the transcriptomes of Sfmbt2-null embryos using RNA-seq. Consistent with its classification as a PcG protein, 75% of differentially expressed genes were upregulated in the e7.5 extraembryonic tissues of SFMBT2-null murine embryos.  Genome-wide SFMBT2 localization analyses revealed broad binding profiles suggesting SFMBT2 recruitment is more complex than its Drosophila counterpart dSfmbt.  Further analysis of called SFMBT2 peaks revealed preferential localization to repetitive elements, specifically LINEs and major satellite sequences, and lncRNAs.  Lastly, a consistent pattern of histone and transcription factor accumulation across SFMBT2 peaks was observed.  Collectively, the data suggest that SFMBT2 plays a complex regulatory role in mediating chromatin architecture which may contribute to the maintenance of stemness in TS cells.