Abstract
Homeostasis of most adult tissues is maintained by balancing stem cell self-renewal and differentiation, but whether post-transcriptional mechanisms can regulate this process is unknown. Here, we identify that an RNA methyltransferase (Misu/Nsun2) is required to balance stem cell self-renewal and differentiation in skin. In the epidermis, this methyltransferase is found in a defined sub-population of hair follicle stem cells poised to undergo lineage commitment, and its depletion results in enhanced quiescence and aberrant stem cell differentiation. Our results reveal that post-transcriptional RNA methylation can play a previously unappreciated role in controlling stem cell fate.
Publication types
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Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
MeSH terms
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Animals
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Body Weight / genetics
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Cell Differentiation / genetics*
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Cell Differentiation / physiology
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Embryonic Development / genetics
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Epidermal Cells
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Epidermis / metabolism*
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Hair Follicle / cytology
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Hair Follicle / metabolism*
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Homeostasis / genetics
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Keratinocytes / cytology
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Keratinocytes / metabolism
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Lymphoid Enhancer-Binding Factor 1 / metabolism
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Methylation
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Methyltransferases / genetics*
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Methyltransferases / metabolism*
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Mice
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Mice, Transgenic
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RNA Processing, Post-Transcriptional / genetics
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RNA, Transfer / genetics
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RNA, Transfer / metabolism*
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Stem Cells / cytology
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Stem Cells / metabolism*
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beta Catenin / metabolism
Substances
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Lef1 protein, mouse
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Lymphoid Enhancer-Binding Factor 1
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beta Catenin
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RNA, Transfer
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Methyltransferases
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Misu protein, mouse