Mouse Embryonic Stem Cell Pluripotency Factors Regulate RNA Methylation.

The pluripotency of embryonic stem cells (ESCs) is actively promoted by a diverse set of factors, including leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF), glycogen synthase kinase-3 (Gsk-3) and mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase (MEK) inhibitors, ascorbic acid, and α-ketoglutarate. Strikingly, several of these factors intersect with the post-transcriptional methylation of RNA (m A), which has also been shown to play a role in ESC pluripotency. Therefore, we explored the possibility that these factors converge on this biochemical pathway to promote the retention of ESC pluripotency.

Vitamin C and Transferrin Reduce RNA Methylation in Mouse Embryonic Stem Cells.

Methylation of mRNA on adenosine bases (referred to as m A) is the most common internal modification of mRNA in eukaryotic cells. Recent work has revealed a detailed view of the biological significance of m A-modified mRNA, with a role in mRNA splicing, control of mRNA stability, and mRNA translation efficiency. Importantly, m A is a reversible modification, and the primary enzymes responsible for methylating (Mettl3/Mettl14) and demethylating RNA (FTO/Alkbh5) have been identified.