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The ring finger protein PCGF6 (polycomb group ring finger 6) interacts with RING1A/B and E2F6 associated factors to form a non-canonical PRC1 (polycomb repressive complex 1) known as PCGF6-PRC1. Here, we demonstrate that PCGF6-PRC1 plays a role in repressing a subset of PRC1 target genes by recruiting RING1B and mediating downstream mono-ubiquitination of histone H2A. PCGF6-PRC1 bound loci are highly enriched for promoters of germ cell-related genes in mouse embryonic stem cells (ESCs). Conditional ablation of Pcgf6 in ESCs leads to robust de-repression of such germ cell-related genes, in turn affecting cell growth and viability. We also find a role for PCGF6 in pre- and peri-implantation mouse embryonic development. We further show that a heterodimer of the transcription factors MAX and MGA recruits PCGF6 to target loci. PCGF6 thus links sequence specific target recognition by the MAX/MGA complex to PRC1-dependent transcriptional silencing of germ cell-specific genes in pluripotent stem cells.

Original publication

DOI

10.7554/eLife.21064

Type

Journal article

Journal

Elife

Publication Date

17/03/2017

Volume

6

Keywords

Polycomb, cell biology, cell differentiation, developmental biology, embryonic stem cells, epigenetics, germ cells, mouse, stem cells, transcription factors, Animals, Cell Differentiation, Embryonic Stem Cells, Gene Expression Regulation, Gene Silencing, Histones, Mice, Polycomb Repressive Complex 1, Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases