Inversion of a topological domain leads to restricted changes in its gene expression and affects inter-domain communication
Ontology highlight
ABSTRACT: The interplay between the topological organization of the genome and the regulation of gene expression remains unclear. Depletion of molecular factors underlying genome topology, such as CTCF and cohesin, leads to modest alterations in gene expression, while genomic rearrangements involving boundaries of topologically associating domains (TADs) disrupt normal gene expression and can lead to pathological phenotypes. Here we inverted an almost entire TAD (245kb out of 300kb) within the X-inactivation centre (Xic), leaving its boundaries intact, which led to a significant rearrangement of topological contacts within the TAD, mostly in accordance to the orientation of underlying CTCF binding sites, and to an increase in contact insulation with the neighbouring TAD. Expression of most genes within the TAD remained unaffected in mutant mouse embryonic stem cells and during differentiation. Interestingly, expression in the neighbouring TAD of the noncoding transcript Xist, which controls X-chromosome inactivation, was ectopically upregulated. The same inversion in mouse embryos led to slight biases in Xist expression but normal patterns of X-chromosome inactivation. Our study suggests that the wiring of regulatory interactions within a TAD can influence the expression of genes in neighbouring TADs, highlighting the existence of mechanisms for inter-TAD communication.
ORGANISM(S): Mus musculus
PROVIDER: GSE180617 | GEO | 2022/04/18
REPOSITORIES: GEO
ACCESS DATA