RT Journal Article SR Electronic T1 Loss of Resf1 reduces the efficiency of embryonic stem cell self-renewal and germline entry JF Life Science Alliance JO Life Sci. Alliance FD Life Science Alliance LLC SP e202101190 DO 10.26508/lsa.202101190 VO 4 IS 12 A1 Matúš Vojtek A1 Ian Chambers YR 2021 UL https://www.life-science-alliance.org/content/4/12/e202101190.abstract AB Retroelement silencing factor 1 (RESF1) interacts with the key regulators of mouse embryonic stem cells (ESCs) OCT4 and NANOG, and its absence results in sterility of mice. However, the function of RESF1 in ESCs and germline specification is poorly understood. In this study, we used Resf1 knockout cell lines to determine the requirements of RESF1 for ESC self-renewal and for in vitro specification of ESCs into primordial germ cell-like cells (PGCLCs). We found that deletion of Resf1 in ESCs cultured in serum and LIF reduces self-renewal potential, whereas episomal expression of RESF1 has a modest positive effect on ESC self-renewal. In addition, RESF1 is not required for the capacity of NANOG and its downstream target ESRRB to drive self-renewal in the absence of LIF. However, Resf1 deletion reduces the efficiency of PGCLC differentiation in vitro. These results identify Resf1 as a novel player in the regulation of pluripotent stem cells and germ cell specification.