The transcription factor THAP11 is a general regulator of early embryonic polarization

In the early stages of mouse embryogenesis, three sequential waves of cell polarization occur in the trophectoderm, primitive endoderm, and epiblast. Researchers have discovered that the transcription factor THAP11 acts as a general regulator responsible for driving these waves of cell polarization. Utilizing a novel mouse model that combines genetic knockout and an inducible degron system, the scientists found that deleting THAP11 at specific stages resulted in the failure of cell polarization, leading to impaired blastocyst formation, premature maturation of the primitive endoderm, and disrupted lumenogenesis in the epiblast.

THAP11 does not directly regulate pluripotency genes, but rather, it activates polarity genes by promoting chromatin accessibility at their promoters. This transcription factor works in conjunction with stage-specific regulators to pace the timing of cell polarization throughout embryonic development. The findings establish THAP11 as a crucial player in embryonic morphogenesis.