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First published online 16 August 2005
doi: 10.1242/jcs.02500

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Distinctive nuclear organisation of centromeres and regions involved in pluripotency in human embryonic stem cells

¹ MRC Human Genetics Unit, Crewe Road, Edinburgh, EH4 2XU, UK
² Roslin Institute, Roslin BioCentre, Midlothian, EH25 9PS, UK

^* Author for correspondence (e-mail: w.bickmore{at}hgu.mrc.ac.uk)

Accepted 13 May 2005

Nuclear organisation is thought to be important in regulating gene expression. Here we investigate whether human embryonic stem cells (hES) have a particular nuclear organisation, which could be important for maintaining their pluripotent state. We found that whereas the nuclei of hES cells have a general gene-density-related radial organisation of chromosomes, as is seen in differentiated cells, there are also distinctive localisations for chromosome regions and gene loci with a role in pluripotency. Chromosome 12p, a region of the human genome that contains clustered pluripotency genes including NANOG, has a more central nuclear localisation in ES cells than in differentiated cells. On chromosome 6p we find no overall change in nuclear chromosome position, but instead we detect a relocalisation of the OCT4 locus, to a position outside its chromosome territory. There is also a smaller proportion of centromeres located close to the nuclear periphery in hES cells compared to differentiated cells. We conclude that hES cell nuclei have a distinct nuclear architecture, especially at loci involved in maintaining pluripotency. Understanding this level of hES cell biology provides a framework within which other large-scale chromatin changes that may accompany differentiation can be considered.

Key words: Centromere, Chromosome territory, Embryonic stem cell, NANOG, Nucleus, OCT4

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