CUT&Tag sequencing analyses target genes directly bound by transcription factors
Ontology highlight
ABSTRACT: TF occupancy within or near a gene promoter or enhancer region is often assumed to be sufficient evidence for the gene to be classified as a direct TF target. We identified the TF ATF3 and ONECUT2 occupancy sites and direct target candidate genes using the CUT&Tag in hepatocyte organoids.
Project description:Aberrant differentiation, driven by activation of normally silent tissue-specific genes, results in a switch of cell identity and often leads to cancer progression. The underlying genetic and epigenetic events are largely unexplored. Here, we report ectopic activation of the hepatobiliary-, intestinal- and neural-specific gene one cut homeobox 2 (ONECUT2) in various subtypes of lung cancer. ONECUT2 expression was associated with poor prognosis of RAS-driven lung adenocarcinoma. ONECUT2 overexpression promoted the malignant growth and invasion of A549 lung cancer cells in vitro, as well as xenograft tumorigenesis and bone metastases of these cells in vivo. Integrative transcriptomics and epigenomics analyses suggested that ONECUT2 promoted the trans-differentiation of lung cancer cells by preferentially targeting and regulating the activity of bivalent chromatin domains through modulating Polycomb Repressive Complex 2 (PRC2) occupancy. Our findings demonstrate that ONECUT2 is a lineage-specific and context-dependent oncogene in lung adenocarcinoma and suggest that ONECUT2 is a potential therapeutic target for these tumors.
Project description:It is widely believed that reorganization of nucleosomes result in availability of transcription factor (TF) binding sites for eukaryotic gene regulation. Recent findings also show TFs induced during physiological perturbations can alter nucleosome occupancy to facilitate DNA binding. Although, these suggest a close relationship between TF binding and nucleosomes, the nature of this interaction, or to what extent it influences transcription is not clear. Moreover, since physiological perturbations induced multiple TFs, relatively direct effect of any TF on nucleosome occupancy remains poorly addressed. With these in mind, we used a single TF to induce physiological changes and following characterization of the two states (before and after induction of the TF) we determined: (a) genome wide binding sites of the TF, (b) promoter nucleosome occupancy and (c) transcriptome profiles, independently in both conditions. We find only ~20% of TF binding results from nucleosome repositioning - interestingly, almost all corresponding genes were transcriptionally altered. Whereas, when TF-occupancy was independent of nucleosome repositioning only a small fraction of corresponding genes were expressed/repressed. These observations suggest a model where TF occupancy leads to transcriptional change only when coupled with nucleosome repositioning in close proximity. This, to our knowledge, for the first time also helps explain why genome wide TF occupancy (e.g., from ChIP-sequencing) typically overlaps with only a small fraction of genes that change expression. The nature of interaction between TF binding and nucleosomes and what extent it influences transcription
Project description:Previous studies have analyzed patterns of transcription, transcription factor (TF) binding or mapped nucleosome occupancy across the genome. These suggest that the three aspects are genetically connected but the cause and effect relationships are still unknown. For example, physiologic TF binding studies involve many TFs, consequently, it is difficult to assign nucleosome reorganization to the binding site occupancy of any particular TF. Therefore, several aspects remain unclear: does TF binding influence nucleosome (re)organizations locally (in close vicinity of their binding sites) or impact the chromatin landscape at a more global level; are all or only a fraction of TF binding a result of reorganization in nucleosome occupancy; finally, do all TF binding and associated nucleosome occupancy changes result in altered gene expression? With these in mind, we sought to study a single TF that induces physiological changes, and following characterization of the two states (before and after induction of the TF) we determined: (a) genomic binding sites of the TF, (b) promoter nucleosome occupancy and (c) transcriptome profiles, independently in both conditions. Results demonstrate that TF binding influences expression of the target gene only when it is coupled to nucleosome repositioning at or close to its binding site, and not when transcription factor binding occurs without local associated nucleosome reorganization. The nature of interaction between TF binding and nucleosomes and what extent it influences transcription
Project description:ChIPBS analysis of HepG2 cells was performed using more direct assay approach, to study the methylation status of transcription factor bound sites and elucidate our understanding on TF-DNA methylation crosstalk
Project description:To access methylation change during gastric carcinogenesis in this study, we performed RRBS analysis with LCM-derived normal gastric mucosa and gastric tumor tissue [GSE55159]. Among a set of genes hypomethylated and upregulated in GC, ONECUT2 was identified as a hypomethylated target in GC. Upregulated ONECUT2 expression significantly increased the proliferation, colony formation, migration and invasion in GC cells. To identify target genes regulated by ONECUT2, we performed ChIP-seq and RNA-seq.
Project description:It is widely believed that reorganization of nucleosomes result in availability of transcription factor (TF) binding sites for eukaryotic gene regulation. Recent findings also show TFs induced during physiological perturbations can alter nucleosome occupancy to facilitate DNA binding. Although, these suggest a close relationship between TF binding and nucleosomes, the nature of this interaction, or to what extent it influences transcription is not clear. Moreover, since physiological perturbations induced multiple TFs, relatively direct effect of any TF on nucleosome occupancy remains poorly addressed. With these in mind, we used a single TF to induce physiological changes and following characterization of the two states (before and after induction of the TF) we determined: (a) genome wide binding sites of the TF, (b) promoter nucleosome occupancy and (c) transcriptome profiles, independently in both conditions. We find only ~20% of TF binding results from nucleosome repositioning - interestingly, almost all corresponding genes were transcriptionally altered. Whereas, when TF-occupancy was independent of nucleosome repositioning only a small fraction of corresponding genes were expressed/repressed. These observations suggest a model where TF occupancy leads to transcriptional change only when coupled with nucleosome repositioning in close proximity. This, to our knowledge, for the first time also helps explain why genome wide TF occupancy (e.g., from ChIP-sequencing) typically overlaps with only a small fraction of genes that change expression.
Project description:Nucleoporin 98 (NUP98) fusion oncoproteins are strong drivers of pediatric acute myeloid leukemia (AML) with poor prognosis. Here we show that NUP98 fusion-expressing AML harbors an epigenetic signature that is characterized by increased accessibility of hematopoietic stem cell genes and enrichment of activating histone marks. We employ an AML model for ligand-induced degradation of the NUP98::KDM5A fusion oncoprotein to identify epigenetic programs and transcriptional targets that are directly regulated by NUP98::KDM5A through CUT&Tag and nascent RNA-seq. Orthogonal genome-wide CRISPR/Cas9 screening identifies 12 direct NUP98::KDM5A target genes, which are essential for AML cell growth. Among these, we validate cyclin-dependent kinase 12 (CDK12) as a druggable vulnerability in NUP98::KDM5A-expressing AML. In line with its role in the transcription of DNA damage repair genes, small-molecule-mediated CDK12 inactivation causes increased DNA damage, leading to AML cell death. Altogether, we show that NUP98::KDM5A directly regulates a core set of essential target genes and reveal CDK12 as an actionable vulnerability in AML with oncogenic NUP98 fusions.
Project description:Previous studies have analyzed patterns of transcription, transcription factor (TF) binding or mapped nucleosome occupancy across the genome. These suggest that the three aspects are genetically connected but the cause and effect relationships are still unknown. For example, physiologic TF binding studies involve many TFs, consequently, it is difficult to assign nucleosome reorganization to the binding site occupancy of any particular TF. Therefore, several aspects remain unclear: does TF binding influence nucleosome (re)organizations locally (in close vicinity of their binding sites) or impact the chromatin landscape at a more global level; are all or only a fraction of TF binding a result of reorganization in nucleosome occupancy; finally, do all TF binding and associated nucleosome occupancy changes result in altered gene expression? With these in mind, we sought to study a single TF that induces physiological changes, and following characterization of the two states (before and after induction of the TF) we determined: (a) genomic binding sites of the TF, (b) promoter nucleosome occupancy and (c) transcriptome profiles, independently in both conditions. Results demonstrate that TF binding influences expression of the target gene only when it is coupled to nucleosome repositioning at or close to its binding site, and not when transcription factor binding occurs without local associated nucleosome reorganization.