The Histone H3 Lysine 27-Specific Demethylase Jmjd3 Is Required for Neural Commitment
2008

The Role of Jmjd3 in Neural Commitment

publication 10 minutes Evidence: high

Author Information

Author(s): Burgold Thomas, Spreafico Fabio, De Santa Francesca, Totaro Maria Grazia, Prosperini Elena, Natoli Gioacchino, Testa Giuseppe

Primary Institution: European Institute of Oncology, Milan, Italy

Hypothesis

Jmjd3 is required for the commitment of embryonic stem cells to the neural lineage.

Conclusion

The study demonstrates that Jmjd3 is essential for the differentiation of embryonic stem cells into neural stem cells by regulating key neurogenic markers.

Supporting Evidence

  • Jmjd3 is specifically upregulated at the start of embryonic stem cell differentiation.
  • Knockdown of Jmjd3 impairs the upregulation of key neurogenic markers like Pax6, Nestin, and Sox1.
  • Jmjd3 directly binds to the promoters of neurogenic genes during differentiation.
  • Loss of Jmjd3 results in failure to demethylate H3-K27me3 at the Nestin promoter.

Takeaway

Jmjd3 helps stem cells become nerve cells by turning on important genes needed for this change.

Methodology

The study used RNA interference to knock down Jmjd3 in embryonic stem cells and analyzed gene expression and histone modifications during differentiation.

Limitations

The study primarily focuses on a single demethylase and its role, which may not encompass the entire complexity of neural differentiation.

Statistical Information

P-Value

p<0.01

Statistical Significance

p<0.01

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

10.1371/journal.pone.0003034

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