Project description:We used RNA-seq to evaluate the global programme of gene expression after Dox inducible Yamanaka factors ectopic expression during this biological process.
Project description:We used ATAC-seq to evaluate the global programme of chromtain accessibility after Dox inducible Yamanaka factors ectopic expression during this biological process.
Project description:To investigate the molecular mechanism for the elimination of leukemia cells after Dox induced OSKM expression, we sorted MLL-AF9 leukemia cells from Dox untreated and treated groups (48h and 72h) leukemic mice for gene expression profiling analysis.
Project description:Applying somatic cell reprogramming strategies in cancer cell biology is a powerful approach to analyze mechanisms of malignancy and develop new therapeutics. Here, we test whether leukemia cells can be reprogrammed in vivo using the canonical reprogramming transcription factors-Oct4, Sox2, Klf4, and c-Myc (termed as OSKM). Unexpectedly, we discover that OSKM can eradicate leukemia cells and dramatically improve survival of leukemia-bearing mice. By contrast, OSKM minimally impact normal hematopoietic cells. Using ATAC-seq, we find OSKM induce chromatin accessibility near genes encoding apoptotic regulators in leukemia cells. Moreover, this selective effect also involves downregulation of H3K9me3 as an early event. Dissection of the functional effects of OSKM shows that Klf4 and Sox2 play dominant roles compared to c-Myc and Oct4 in elimination of leukemia cells. These results reveal an intriguing paradigm by which OSKM-initiated reprogramming induction can be leveraged and diverged to develop novel anti-cancer strategies.
Project description:Reprogramming cells from one fate to another, using transcription factors, generates cells for research and potential therapy, yet little is known about the initial engagement of reprogramming factors with the genome. We mapped the interactions between Oct4, Sox2, Klf4, and c-Myc (OSKM) and the human genome during the first 48 hours of cellular reprogramming to pluripotency. Unlike that reported in ES/iPS cells, we find extensive overlap in the initial binding of OSKM, demonstrating that the initial regulatory network differs markedly from that in pluripotency. OSK act as pioneer factors for c-Myc, and c-Myc enhances the engagement of OSK, including at many genes that are required for conversion to pluripotency. Distal enhancer sites in closed chromatin dominate the initial OSKM distribution. Hierarchical chromatin binding during reprogramming resembles that employed during development. Four chIP-seq data sets (Oct4, Sox2, Klf4, and c-Myc) are included, one lane per factor, no replicates. Also included is an input lane from the same conditions and two mock lentiviral controls (no exogenous OSKM factors) treated with Oct4 IP and c-Myc IP.