Functional analyses of ECATs, genes specifically expressed in ES cells

胚胎干细胞来源于囊胚的内部细胞群，在保持多能性的同时无限增殖。我们已经确定了在胚胎干细胞中特异性表达的基因，并将其指定为胚胎干细胞相关转录本的ecat。本研究的目的是对ecats进行功能分析。ECAT2 （ESG1）小鼠ESG1基因和假基因的结构已经确定。我们删除了ESG1基因，但在小鼠和ES细胞中均未观察到显著的表型。ECAT4 （Nanog）我们发现Nanog抑制胚胎干细胞向原始内胚层分化。ECAT5 （ERas）我们发现质膜定位对ERas的功能至关重要。我们还发现，c端的法尼化、甲基化和棕榈酰化是膜定位所必需的。我们发现Sox15和Sox2在ES细胞中调控不同的靶基因。我们删除了小鼠Sox15基因，但在小鼠和ES细胞中均未观察到显著的表型。

Embryonic stem (ES) cells derived from inner cell mass of blastocysts proliferate infinitely while maintaining pluripotency. We have identified genes that are specifically expressed in ES cells and designated them ECATs for ES cell associated transcripts. The purpose of this study was to perform functional analyses of ECATs.1.ECAT2 (ESG1)We have determined structures of the ESG1 mouse gene and pseudogenes. We deleted the ESG1 gene, but did not observe significant phenotypes in either mouse or ES cells.2.ECAT4 (Nanog)We showed that Nanog suppresses differentiation of ES cells into primitive endoderm lineages.3.ECAT5 (ERas)We found that plasma membrane localization is essential for the functions of ERas. We also found that farnesylation, methylation, and palmitoylation of the C-terminus is required for the membrane localization.4.ECAT10 (Sox15)We found that Sox15 and Sox2 regulate different sets of target genes in ES cells. We deleted the mouse Sox15 gene, but did not observe significant phenotypes in either mouse or ES cells.