Lrrc34, a novel nucleolar protein, interacts with npm1 and ncl and has an impact on pluripotent stem cells

Stem Cells Dev. 2014 Dec 1;23(23):2862-74. doi: 10.1089/scd.2013.0470. Epub 2014 Aug 5.

Abstract

The gene Lrrc34 (leucine rich repeat containing 34) is highly expressed in pluripotent stem cells and its expression is strongly downregulated upon differentiation. These results let us to suggest a role for Lrrc34 in the regulation and maintenance of pluripotency. Expression analyses revealed that Lrrc34 is predominantly expressed in pluripotent stem cells and has an impact on the expression of known pluripotency genes, such as Oct4. Methylation studies of the Lrrc34 promoter showed a hypomethylation in undifferentiated stem cells and chromatin immunoprecipitation-quantitative polymerase chain reaction analyses of histone modifications revealed an enrichment of activating histone modifications on the Lrrc34 promoter region. Further, we could verify the nucleolus-the place of ribosome biogenesis-as the major subcellular localization of the LRRC34 protein. We have verified the interaction of LRRC34 with two major nucleolar proteins, Nucleophosmin and Nucleolin, by two independent methods, suggesting a role for Lrrc34 in ribosome biogenesis of pluripotent stem cells. In conclusion, LRRC34 is a novel nucleolar protein that is predominantly expressed in pluripotent stem cells. Its altered expression has an impact on pluripotency-regulating genes and it interacts with proteins known to be involved in ribosome biogenesis. Therefore we suggest a role for Lrrc34 in ribosome biogenesis of pluripotent stem cells.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • DNA Methylation / physiology
  • Gene Expression Regulation / physiology*
  • Humans
  • Mice
  • Nuclear Proteins / genetics
  • Nuclear Proteins / metabolism*
  • Nucleolin
  • Nucleophosmin
  • Phosphoproteins / genetics
  • Phosphoproteins / metabolism*
  • Pluripotent Stem Cells / cytology
  • Pluripotent Stem Cells / metabolism*
  • Promoter Regions, Genetic / physiology
  • RNA-Binding Proteins / genetics
  • RNA-Binding Proteins / metabolism*
  • Repressor Proteins / genetics
  • Repressor Proteins / metabolism*
  • Ribosomes / genetics
  • Ribosomes / metabolism*

Substances

  • NPM1 protein, human
  • Npm1 protein, mouse
  • Nuclear Proteins
  • Phosphoproteins
  • RNA-Binding Proteins
  • Repressor Proteins
  • leucine-rich repeat-containing protein 34, mouse
  • Nucleophosmin