Transcriptional and epigenetic control in mouse pluripotency: lessons from in vivo and in vitro studies

Here we review recent studies of the transcriptional and epigenetic changes during very early stages of mouse embryo development and compare these with pluripotent cells grown in vitro under different culture conditions. We discuss whether the in vitro cell states have an 'epi-phenocopy' in the embryo and refine our understanding of the circuitries controlling pluripotency and lineage commitment during early stages of mouse development.