Genome-wide histone modification and accessibility maps of mESCs, in the pluripotent state and after induced differentiation
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ABSTRACT: Gene expression networks are tightly regulated by transcription factors (TF) and their targeted regulatory genomic elements (enhancers), which are known to correlate with specific histone modifications and chromatin accessibility. The identification of enhancers on a genome wide level is an important prerequisite for many functional studies, however the prediction of enhancer elements, especially with in response to changing conditions, remains challenging. Here we report the generation of a genome-wide mESC enhancer prediction map, comparing the pluripotent state and induced differentiation, by the integration of data on transcription, chromatin accessibility and multiple histone modifications.
Project description:Transcriptional enhancers play critical roles in regulation of gene expression, but their identification has remained a challenge. Recently, it was shown that enhancers in the mammalian genome are associated with characteristic histone modification patterns, which have been increasingly exploited for enhancer identification. However, only a limited number of histone modifications have previously been investigated for this purpose, leaving the questions answered whether there exist an optimal set of histone modifications that could improve the enhancer prediction. Here, we address this issue by exploring a rich dataset produced by the human Epigenome Roadmap Project. Specifically, we examined genome-wide profiles of 24 histone modifications in human embryonic stem cells and fibroblasts, and developed a Random-Forest based algorithm to integrate histone modification profiles for identification of enhancers.As a training set, we used histone modification profiles at genome-wide binding sites of p300 in the two cell types identified using ChIP-seq. We show that this algorithm not only leads to more accurate and precise prediction of enhancers than previous methods, but also helps identify an optimal set of three chromatin marks for enhancer prediction. ChIP-Seq Analysis of p300 in hESC H1 and IMR90 cells. Sequencing was done on the Illumina Genome Analyzer II platform for the H1 data and Illumina HiSeq for IMR90.Data was mapped to hg18 using Bowtie.
Project description:Developmental programs are controlled by transcription factors and chromatin regulators, which maintain specific gene expression programs through epigenetic modification of the genome. These regulatory events at enhancers contribute to the specific gene expression programs that determine cell state and the potential for differentiation into new cell types. While enhancer elements are known to be associated with certain histone modifications, and transcription factors, the relationship of these modifications to gene expression and developmental state has not been clearly defined. Here we interrogate the epigenetic landscape of enhancer elements in embryonic stem cells and several adult tissues in the mouse. We find that histone H3K27ac distinguishes active enhancers from inactive/poised enhancer elements, thus providing clues to current cell state and further developmental potential. Gene expression profiling was performed in mouse ES, NPC, liver, and pro-B
Project description:Transcriptional enhancers play critical roles in regulation of gene expression, but their identification has remained a challenge. Recently, it was shown that enhancers in the mammalian genome are associated with characteristic histone modification patterns, which have been increasingly exploited for enhancer identification. However, only a limited number of histone modifications have previously been investigated for this purpose, leaving the questions answered whether there exist an optimal set of histone modifications that could improve the enhancer prediction. Here, we address this issue by exploring a rich dataset produced by the human Epigenome Roadmap Project. Specifically, we examined genome-wide profiles of 24 histone modifications in human embryonic stem cells and fibroblasts, and developed a Random-Forest based algorithm to integrate histone modification profiles for identification of enhancers.As a training set, we used histone modification profiles at genome-wide binding sites of p300 in the two cell types identified using ChIP-seq. We show that this algorithm not only leads to more accurate and precise prediction of enhancers than previous methods, but also helps identify an optimal set of three chromatin marks for enhancer prediction.
Project description:Precise spatiotemporally regulated gene expression is pivotal for cell homeostasis, cell differentiation and during development. Gene expression networks are tightly regulated by transcription factors (TF) and their targeted regulatory genomic elements (enhancers), which are known to correlate with specific histone modifications. However, the ultimate prerequisites, which determine functionally active enhancers, remain unclear. To elucidate the regulatory landscape of murine ESCs, a massively parallel reporter assay, based on STARR-seq (Self-Transcribing Active Regulatory Region sequencing), assessing genomic fragments prepared from accessible chromatin, (FAIRE-STARR-seq) has been applied. Thus, a genome-wide quantitative map of functional mESC enhancers in naive state and after retinoic acid (RA)-induced differentiation was generated. To investigate sequence features associated with RA-mediated inducibility of enhancers bound by retinoic acid receptor alpha (RARα), the main receptor for RA, genomic binding sites of RARα have been determined.
Project description:To identify candidate enhancer elements we analyzed the distribution of two histone modifications associated with enhancers - H3K4me1 and H3K27ac - and one histone modification associated with active transcription - H4 acetylation. ChIP-seq for H3K4me1, H3K27ac and H4ac, and input DNA controls, from 2 cell types (DCs & fibroblasts) under 2 conditions (unstimulated & stimulated)
Project description:FOXA1 is a pioneer factor that is important in hormone dependent cancer cells to stabilise nuclear receptors, such as estrogen receptor (ER) to chromatin. FOXA1 binds to enhancers regions that are enriched in H3K4mono- and dimethylation (H3K4me1, H3K4me2) histone marks and evidence suggests that these marks are requisite events for FOXA1 to associate with enhancers to initate subsequent gene expression events. However, exogenous expression of FOXA1 has been shown to induce H3K4me1 and H3K4me2 signal at enhancer elements and the order of events and the functional importance of these events is not clear. We performed a FOXA1 Rapid Immunoprecipitation Mass Spectrometry of Endogenous Proteins (RIME) screen in ERα-positive MCF-7 breast cancer cells in order to identify FOXA1 interacting partners and we found histone-lysine N-methyltransferase (MLL3) as the top FOXA1 interacting protein. MLL3 is typically thought to induce H3K4me3 at promoter regions, but recent findings suggest it may contribute to H3K4me1 deposition, in line with our observation that MLL3 associates with an enhancer specific protein. We performed MLL3 ChIP-seq in breast cancer cells and unexpectedly found that MLL3 binds mostly at non-promoter regions enhancers, in contrast to the prevailing hypothesis. MLL3 was shown to occupy regions marked by FOXA1 occupancy and as expected, H3K4me1 and H3K4me2. MLL3 binding was dependent on FOXA1, indicating that FOXA1 recruits MLL3 to chromatin. Motif analysis and subsequent genomic mapping revealed a role for Grainy head like protein-2 (GRHL2) which was shown to co-occupy regions of the chromatin with MLL3. Regions occupied by all three factors, namely FOXA1, MLL3 and GRHL2, were most enriched in H3K4me1. MLL3 silencing decreased H3K4me1 at enhancer elements, but had no appreciable impact on H3K4me3 at enhancer elements. We identify a complex relationship between FOXA1, MLL3 and H3K4me1 at enhancers in breast cancer and propose a mechanism whereby the pioneer factor FOXA1 can interact with a chromatin modifier MLL3, recruiting it to chromatin to facilitate the deposition of H3K4me1 histone marks, subsequently demarcating active enhancer elements.
Project description:To identify candidate enhancer elements we analyzed the distribution of two histone modifications associated with enhancers - H3K4me1 and H3K27ac - and one histone modification associated with active transcription - H4 acetylation.
Project description:Enhancer elements are a key regulatory feature of many important genes. Several general features including the presence of specific histone modifications are used to demarcate potentially active enhancers. Here we reveal that putative enhancers marked with H3 lysine 79 (K79) di or trimethylation (me2/3) (which we name H3K79me2/3 enhancer elements or KEEs) can be found in multiple cell types. Mixed lineage leukemia gene (MLL) rearrangements (MLL-r) such as MLL-AF4 are a major cause of incurable acute lymphoblastic leukemias (ALL). Using the DOT1L inhibitor EPZ-5676 in MLL-AF4 leukemia cells, we show that H3K79me2/3 is required for maintaining chromatin accessibility, histone acetylation and transcription factor binding specifically at KEEs but not non-KEE enhancers. We go on to show that H3K79me2/3 is essential for maintaining enhancer-promoter interactions at a subset of KEEs. Together, these data implicate H3K79me2/3 as having a functional role at a subset of active enhancers in MLL-AF4 leukemia cells.
Project description:Enhancer elements are a key regulatory feature of many important genes. Several general features including the presence of specific histone modifications are used to demarcate potentially active enhancers. Here we reveal that putative enhancers marked with H3 lysine 79 (K79) di or trimethylation (me2/3) (which we name H3K79me2/3 enhancer elements or KEEs) can be found in multiple cell types. Mixed lineage leukemia gene (MLL) rearrangements (MLL-r) such as MLL-AF4 are a major cause of incurable acute lymphoblastic leukemias (ALL). Using the DOT1L inhibitor EPZ-5676 in MLL-AF4 leukemia cells, we show that H3K79me2/3 is required for maintaining chromatin accessibility, histone acetylation and transcription factor binding specifically at KEEs but not non-KEE enhancers. We go on to show that H3K79me2/3 is essential for maintaining enhancer-promoter interactions at a subset of KEEs. Together, these data implicate H3K79me2/3 as having a functional role at a subset of active enhancers in MLL-AF4 leukemia cells.
Project description:Enhancer elements are a key regulatory feature of many important genes. Several general features including the presence of specific histone modifications are used to demarcate potentially active enhancers. Here we reveal that putative enhancers marked with H3 lysine 79 (K79) di or trimethylation (me2/3) (which we name H3K79me2/3 enhancer elements or KEEs) can be found in multiple cell types. Mixed lineage leukemia gene (MLL) rearrangements (MLL-r) such as MLL-AF4 are a major cause of incurable acute lymphoblastic leukemias (ALL). Using the DOT1L inhibitor EPZ-5676 in MLL-AF4 leukemia cells, we show that H3K79me2/3 is required for maintaining chromatin accessibility, histone acetylation and transcription factor binding specifically at KEEs but not non-KEE enhancers. We go on to show that H3K79me2/3 is essential for maintaining enhancer-promoter interactions at a subset of KEEs. Together, these data implicate H3K79me2/3 as having a functional role at a subset of active enhancers in MLL-AF4 leukemia cells.