A single-cell CRISPR screen defines a gene regulatory network governing human pluripotency in primed and naive cells - PubMed
5 hours ago
- #gene regulatory network
- #pluripotency
- #CRISPR
- A single-cell CRISPR screen was used to investigate essential transcription factors (TFs) in human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs).
- Most TFs form a highly interconnected gene regulatory network (GRN) that governs key aspects of pluripotency, including self-renewal, differentiation, survival, and transposable element expression.
- Some TFs act as lineage-specific gatekeepers, blocking exit from pluripotency, while others inhibit pluripotency, balancing self-renewal and differentiation responsiveness.
- Perturbing the GRN in naive hPSCs revealed both conserved and state-specific regulatory roles compared to primed cells.
- The study defines an extended GRN for human pluripotency, offering insights into early human development and potential improvements for hPSC-based disease models and regenerative therapies.