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// Ramon Ocadiz-Ruiz 1 , Amanda L. Photenhauer 1 , Michael M. Hayes 1 , Lin Ding 1 , Eric R. Fearon 2 and Juanita L. Merchant 1, 3 1 Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA 2 Division of Molecular Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA 3 Department of Molecular and Integrative Physiology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA Correspondence to: Juanita L. Merchant, email: merchanj@umich.edu Keywords: organoids, Apc, CDKN2A, ChIP-Seq, SA-bGal Abbreviations: SCFA = short chain fatty acids, tdT = tdTomato, Tx = tamoxifen, HDAC = histone deacetylase Received: August 02, 2017 Accepted: September 08, 2017 Published: October 09, 2017 ABSTRACT ZBP-89 ( Zfp148, ZNF148 ) is a Kruppel-type zinc-finger family transcription factor that binds to GC-rich DNA elements. Earlier studies in cell lines demonstrated that ZBP-89 cooperates with Wnt β-catenin signaling by inducing β-catenin gene expression. Since β-catenin levels are normally highest at the crypt base, we examined whether ZBP-89 is required for stem cell maintenance. Lineage-tracing using a Zfp148Cre ERT2 transgenic line demonstrated expression in both intestine and colonic stem cells. Deleting the Zfp148 locus in the colon using the Cdx2NLSCre ERT2 transgene, reduced the size and number of polyps formed in the Apc -deleted mice. Since colon polyps form in the presence of butyrate, a short chain fatty acid that suppresses cell growth, we examined the direct effect of butyrate on colon organoid survival. Butyrate induced senescence of colon organoids carrying the Apc deletion, only when Zfp148 was deleted. Using quantitative PCR and chromatin immunoprecipitation, we determined that butyrate treatment of colon cell lines suppressed ZNF148 gene expression, inducing CDKN2a ( p16 Ink4a ) gene expression. Collectively, Zfp148 mRNA is expressed in CBCs, and is required for stem cell maintenance and colonic transformation. Butyrate induces colonic cell senescence in part through suppression of ZBP-89 gene expression and its subsequent occupancy of the CDKN2A promoter.