Inhibition of glycogen synthase kinase-3 alleviates Tcf3 repression of the pluripotency network and increases embryonic stem cell resistance to differentiation

Nat Cell Biol. 2011 Jun 19;13(7):838-45. doi: 10.1038/ncb2267.

Abstract

Self-renewal of rodent embryonic stem cells is enhanced by partial inhibition of glycogen synthase kinase-3 (Gsk3; refs 1, 2). This effect has variously been attributed to stimulation of Wnt signalling by β-catenin, stabilization of Myc protein and global de-inhibition of anabolic processes. Here we demonstrate that β-catenin is not necessary for embryonic stem cell identity or expansion, but its absence eliminates the self-renewal response to Gsk3 inhibition. Responsiveness is fully restored by truncated β-catenin lacking the carboxy-terminal transactivation domain. However, requirement for Gsk3 inhibition is dictated by expression of T-cell factor 3 (Tcf3) and mediated by direct interaction with β-catenin. Tcf3 localizes to many pluripotency genes in embryonic stem cells. Our findings confirm that Tcf3 acts as a transcriptional repressor and reveal that β-catenin directly abrogates Tcf3 function. We conclude that Gsk3 inhibition stabilizes the embryonic stem cell state primarily by reducing repressive influence on the core pluripotency network.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Transcription Factors / genetics
  • Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Transcription Factors / metabolism*
  • Cell Differentiation / drug effects*
  • Cell Line
  • Cell Proliferation / drug effects
  • Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
  • Embryonic Stem Cells / drug effects*
  • Embryonic Stem Cells / enzymology
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental / drug effects
  • Gene Regulatory Networks / drug effects
  • Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3 / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3 / genetics
  • Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3 / metabolism
  • Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3 beta
  • Mice
  • Pluripotent Stem Cells / drug effects*
  • Pluripotent Stem Cells / enzymology
  • Protein Kinase Inhibitors / pharmacology*
  • RNA Interference
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins / metabolism
  • Transfection
  • beta Catenin / genetics
  • beta Catenin / metabolism

Substances

  • Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Transcription Factors
  • CTNNB1 protein, mouse
  • Protein Kinase Inhibitors
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins
  • Tcf3 protein, mouse
  • beta Catenin
  • Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3 beta
  • Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3
  • glycogen synthase kinase 3 alpha