Histone Demethylase Kdm2a Regulates Germ Cell Genes and Endogenous Retroviruses in Embryonic Stem Cells

Abstract

<b>Aim:</b> To investigate the function of <i>Kdm2a</i> in embryonic stem cells (ESCs). <b>Materials & methods:</b> Expression profile analysis after <i>Kdm2a</i> knockout. Analysis of Kdm2a, H3K4me3 and H3K27me3 ChIP-seq data in ESCs. qPCR analysis and ChIP-qPCR analysis of epigenetic changes after <i>Kdm2a</i> loss. <b>Results:</b><i>Kdm2a</i> was dispensable for pluripotency maintenance in ESCs. Kdm2a genomic binding profile was positively correlated with that of H3K4me3, Zfx and Tet1. Kdm2a directly regulated germ cell genes in primordial germ cell-like cells. <i>Kdm2a</i> loss led to the reduced expression of endogenous retrovirus IAPEy and resulted in the gain of H3K36me2 and loss of H3K4me3 on IAPEy. <b>Conclusion:</b> Kdm2a regulates germ cell genes and endogenous retroviruses in ESCs possibly through demethylating H3K36me2 and influencing H3K4me3 deposition.