USP7 Represses Lineage Differentiation Genes in Mouse Embryonic Stem Cells by Both Catalytic and Noncatalytic Activities

Researchers reported that USP7 maintains mESC identity through both catalytic activity–dependent and –independent repression of lineage differentiation genes. Usp7 depletion attenuated SOX2 levels and derepresses lineage differentiation genes thereby compromising mESC pluripotency.