Nature Communications (Oct 2021)

Enhancer-associated H3K4 methylation safeguards in vitro germline competence

  • Tore Bleckwehl,
  • Giuliano Crispatzu,
  • Kaitlin Schaaf,
  • Patricia Respuela,
  • Michaela Bartusel,
  • Laura Benson,
  • Stephen J. Clark,
  • Kristel M. Dorighi,
  • Antonio Barral,
  • Magdalena Laugsch,
  • Wilfred F. J. van IJcken,
  • Miguel Manzanares,
  • Joanna Wysocka,
  • Wolf Reik,
  • Álvaro Rada-Iglesias

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-021-26065-6
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 12, no. 1
pp. 1 – 19

Abstract

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While inductive signals controlling germline specification are well characterized, the intrinsic factors that allow epiblast cells to respond to such signals remain largely unknown. Here the authors use in vitro differentiated primordial germ cells to show that partial retention of histone H3K4 monomethylation within relevant enhancers is important for germline competence and specification.