Prdm1-creER fate maps cells with memory and effector potential [RNAseq_Prdm1tdt]

The transcription factor Blimp1 (encoded by Prdm1) is upregulated in CD8+ T cells early in responses to viral infection. The role of Blimp1 in promoting effector differentiation suggests that it may enforce commitment of cells to an effector fate. However, the target genes that Blimp1 regulates to promote effector differentiation remain incompletely defined. To examine genes associated with Prdm1 induction early in an immune response, we sorted Prdm1-creERT2 fate mapped and non-fate mapped cells on 6 days post LCMV-Arm infection after fate mapping on 3 and 4 days post infection. Prdm1-creER R26-lsl-tdTomato P14 TCR transgenic T cells were transferred into congenic recipient mice, which were infected with LCMV-Arm one day post transfer. Tamoxifen was administered by oral gavage on 3 and 4 days post infection. On day 6 post-infection, memory-biased KLRG1+ and effector-biased KLRG1- cells were sorted, with tdTomato + and tdTomato- cells being separated into distinct tubes for each population. Biological duplicates were sorted for each sample.