Zic2, an enhancer-binding factor required for embryonic stem cell specification

The Zinc finger protein of the cerebellum 2 (Zic2) is one of the vertebrate homologs of the Drosophila pair-rule gene odd-paired (opa). Our molecular and biochemical studies have demonstrated that Zic2 to preferentially bind to transcriptional enhancers and functions as a cofactor that interacts with the NuRD complex in ES cells. Detailed genome-wide studies demonstrate that Zic2 function with Mbd3/NuRD in regulating the chromatin state and transcriptional output of genes linked to differentiation. Zic2 is dispensable for the selfrenewal of ES cells but is required for proper differentiation, similar to what has been previously reported for Mbd3/NuRD. Our study identifies Zic2 as a key factor in the execution of the pluripotency program with Mbd3/NuRD in ES cells.