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Human adult spermatogonial stem cells (hSSCs) must balance self-renewal and differentiation. To understand how this is achieved, we profiled DNA methylation and open chromatin (ATAC-seq) in SSEA4+ hSSCs, analyzed bulk and single-cell RNA transcriptomes (RNA-seq) in SSEA4+ hSSCs and differentiating c-KIT+ spermatogonia, and performed validation studies via immunofluorescence. First, DNA hypomethylation at embryonic developmental genes supports their epigenetic "poising" in hSSCs for future/embryonic expression, while core pluripotency genes (OCT4 and NANOG) were transcriptionally and epigenetically repressed. Interestingly, open chromatin in hSSCs was strikingly enriched in binding sites for pioneer factors (NFYA/B, DMRT1, and hormone receptors). Remarkably, single-cell RNA-seq clustering analysis identified four cellular/developmental states during hSSC differentiation, involving major transitions in cell-cycle and transcriptional regulators, splicing and signaling factors, and glucose/mitochondria regulators. Overall, our results outline the dynamic chromatin/transcription landscape operating in hSSCs and identify crucial molecular pathways that accompany the transition from quiescence to proliferation and differentiation.

Original publication

DOI

10.1016/j.stem.2017.09.003

Type

Journal article

Journal

Cell Stem Cell

Publication Date

05/10/2017

Volume

21

Pages

533 - 546.e6

Keywords

DNA methylation, hormone receptors, human spermatogonial stem cells, metabolism, open chromatin, pluripotency, single-cell RNA-seq, spermatogenesis, Base Sequence, Binding Sites, Chromatin, Cluster Analysis, DNA, DNA Methylation, Genomics, Humans, Male, Meiosis, Pluripotent Stem Cells, Receptors, Cell Surface, Repetitive Sequences, Nucleic Acid, Reproducibility of Results, Seminiferous Tubules, Sequence Analysis, RNA, Signal Transduction, Single-Cell Analysis, Spermatogonia, Stage-Specific Embryonic Antigens, Stem Cells, Transcription, Genetic, Transcriptome