Prdm16 promotes stem cell maintenance in multiple tissues, partly by regulating oxidative stress

Abstract

To better understand the mechanisms that regulate stem cell identity and function we sought to identify genes that are preferentially expressed by stem cells and critical for their function in multiple tissues. Prdm16 is a transcription factor that regulates leukemogenesis1, palatogenesis2, and brown fat development3–5, but which was not known to be required for stem cell function. We demonstrate that Prdm16 is preferentially expressed by stem cells throughout the nervous and hematopoietic systems and required…