Naïve pluripotency is associated with global DNA hypomethylation

Abstract

Naïve pluripotent embryonic stem (ESCs) cells and embryonic germ (EGCs) cells are derived from the preimplantation epiblast and primordial germ cells (PGCs), respectively. We investigated whether differences exist between ESCs and EGCs in view of their distinct developmental origins. PGCs are programmed to undergo global DNA demethylation; however we find that EGCs exhibit equivalent levels of global DNA methylation to ESCs. Importantly, inhibition of MEK and Gsk3b by 2i conditions leads to a pronounced reduction in DNA methylation in both cell types. This is driven by Prdm14 and is associated with downregulation of Dnmt3a and Dnmt3b. However, genomic imprints are maintained in 2i and we report derivation of EGCs with intact genomic imprints. Collectively, our findings establish that culture in 2i instils a naïve pluripotent state with a distinctive epigenetic configuration that parallels molecular features observed in both the preimplantation epiblast and nascent PGCs.