Journal article

Opposing roles of polycomb repressive complexes in hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells

IJ Majewski, ME Ritchie, B Phipson, J Corbin, M Pakusch, A Ebert, M Busslinger, H Koseki, Y Hu, GK Smyth, WS Alexander, DJ Hilton, ME Blewitt

Blood | Published : 2010

Abstract

Polycomb group (PcG) proteins are transcriptional repressors with a central role in the establishment and maintenance of gene expression patterns during development. We have investigated the role of polycomb repressive complexes (PRCs) in hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) and progenitor populations. We show that mice with loss of function mutations in PRC2 components display enhanced HSC/progenitor population activity, whereas mutations that disrupt PRC1 or pleiohomeotic repressive complex are associated with HSC/progenitor cell defects. Because the hierarchical model of PRC action would predict synergistic effects of PRC1 and PRC2 mutation, these opposing effects suggest this model does not h..

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Grants

Awarded by National Health and Medical Research Council


Funding Acknowledgements

This work was supported by a program grant (461219), fellowships (W.S.A., D.J.H., M.E.B), and an Independent Research Institutes Support Scheme Grant (361646) from the National Health and Medical Research Council, a Fellowship from the Cancer Council Victoria (I.J.M.), the Australian Cancer Research Fund, and a Victoria State Government Operational Infrastructure Support grant.