NFI transcription factors regulate zonal olfactory receptor expression

ABSTRACT: Expression of one out of > 1000 olfactory receptor (OR) genes is stochastic, yet organized into anatomic "zones" along the dorsoventral axis of the olfactory epithelium. Here we profile the gene expression, chromatin state and nuclear architecture of olfactory sensory neurons and olfactory progenitors of different zones. We discovered that zonal OR expression is specified by two processes: low-level polygenic transcription of OR genes in olfactory progenitors, as wells as the chromatin structure and nuclear architecture during olfactory differentiation. Specifically, in cells of any zonal segment, polygenic transcription in olfactory progenitors defines the OR repertoire eligible for OR choice as the cells mature, while an increased level of heterochromatin and chromatin compaction represses ectopic more dorsally expressed ORs. We find that this process is regulated by the NFI family of transcription factors that are expressed in a graded fashion in the olfactory epithelium. Conditional deletion of NFI A, B, and X results in a transformation of the chromatin state and nucellar architecture and an accompanying shift in the preferred OR repertoire.

ORGANISM(S): Mus musculus

PROVIDER: GSE158730 | GEO | 2023/06/14

REPOSITORIES: GEO