GATA2/3-TFAP2A/C transcription factor network couples human pluripotent stem cell differentiation to trophectoderm with repression of pluripotency

Significance This study provides a mechanistic explanation for the differentiation of trophoblasts from human pluripotent stem cells, a process relying on BMP morphogens. We found that a network of the transcription factors GATA2, GATA3, TFAP2A, and TFAP2C regulates early trophoblast progenitor specification by activating placental genes and inhibiting the pluripotency gene OCT4 , thus acting to couple trophoblast specification with exit from pluripotency. To demonstrate the relevance of our findings in vivo, we show that down-regulating GATA3 in primate embryos prevents trophectoderm specification. In addition, we present a genome-wide analysis of active and inactive chromatin during trophoblast progenitor specification. These results provide a basis to guide investigations of human trophectoderm development.