Loss of Ezh2 function reshapes DNA replication initiation landscape
Ontology highlight
ABSTRACT: DNA replication initiation is made possible by the assembly of pre- replication complexes (Pre-RCs) at genomic locations called DNA replication initiation sites (origins) during G1-phase. Although there are no conserved characteristics of metazoan origins on which Pre-RCs form, previous findings suggest that origins are strongly associated with open, active chromatin regions of the genome such as promoters, enhancers, and active histone marks. However, over a third of transcriptionally silent genes associate with DNA replication initiation activity in mESC cells, and most of these genes are bound and repressed by the Polycomb repressive complex 2 (PRC2) through the repressive H3K27me3 mark. This is the strongest observed association of an epigenetic regulator element with replication origin activity. Thus, I wished to ask whether Polycomb-mediated gene repression plays a direct role in the recruitment of DNA replication origins activity to silent genes. I comprehensively characterized the consequences of PRC2 catalytic activity (EZH2 subunit) depletion on the activity of DNA replication origins in mESC through a genome-wide evaluation. My findings suggest that absence of EZH2 results in increased DNA replication initiation activity at EZH2-bound sites. Interestingly, the increase in DNA replication initiation activity does not correlate with transcriptional de-repression or acquisition of the activating marks H3K4me3 and H3K27ac but loss of the repressive H3K27me3 mark leading to increased accessibility of chromatin.
ORGANISM(S): Mus musculus
PROVIDER: GSE205756 | GEO | 2023/04/19
REPOSITORIES: GEO
ACCESS DATA