Zfp206 is a transcription factor that controls pluripotency of embryonic stem cells

ZfP206 (ZNF206 in human) encodes a zinc finger- and SCAN domain-containing protein that is highly expressed in pluripotent ESC. Upon differentiation of human and mouse ESC, Zfp206 expression is quickly repressed. Zfp206 was found to be expressed throughout embryogenesis but absent in adult tissues except testis. We have identified a role for Zfp206 in controlling ESC differentiation. ESC engineered to over-express Zfp206 were found to be resistant to differentiation induced by retinoic acid. In addition, ESC with knocked-down expression of Zfp206 were more sensitive to differentiation by retinoic acid treatment. We found that Zfp206 was able to enhance expression from its own promoter and also activate transcription of the Oct4 and Nanog promoters. Our results show that Zfp206 is an embryonic transcription factor that plays a role in regulating pluripotency of embryonic stem cells.