Project description:Chromatin insulators are DNA-protein complexes that can prevent the spread of repressive chromatin and block communication between enhancers and promoters to regulate gene expression. In Drosophila, the gypsy chromatin insulator complex consists of three core proteins: CP190, Su(Hw), and Mod(mdg4)67.2. These factors concentrate at nuclear foci termed insulator bodies, and their normal localization is correlated with proper insulator function. Here, we identified NURF301/E(bx), a nucleosome remodeling factor, as a novel regulator of gypsy insulator body localization through a high-throughput RNAi imaging screen. NURF301 promotes gypsy-dependent insulator barrier activity and physically interacts with gypsy insulator proteins. Using ChIP-seq, we found that NURF301 co-localizes with insulator proteins genome-wide, and NURF301 promotes chromatin association of Su(Hw) and CP190 at gypsy insulator binding sites. These effects correlate with NURF301-dependent nucleosome repositioning. At the same time, CP190 and Su(Hw) are also required for recruitment of NURF301 to chromatin. Finally, Oligopaint FISH combined with immunofluorescence revealed that NURF301 promotes 3D contact between insulator bodies and gypsy binding site DNA, and NURF301 is required for proper nuclear positioning of gypsy binding sites. Our data provide new insights into how a nucleosome remodeling factor and insulator proteins cooperatively contribute to nuclear organization.
Project description:Chromatin insulators are DNA-protein complexes that can prevent the spread of repressive chromatin and block communication between enhancers and promoters to regulate gene expression. In Drosophila, the gypsy chromatin insulator complex consists of three core proteins: CP190, Su(Hw), and Mod(mdg4)67.2. These factors concentrate at nuclear foci termed insulator bodies, and their normal localization is correlated with proper insulator function. Here, we identified NURF301/E(bx), a nucleosome remodeling factor, as a novel regulator of gypsy insulator body localization through a high-throughput RNAi imaging screen. NURF301 promotes gypsy-dependent insulator barrier activity and physically interacts with gypsy insulator proteins. Using ChIP-seq, we found that NURF301 co-localizes with insulator proteins genome-wide, and NURF301 promotes chromatin association of Su(Hw) and CP190 at gypsy insulator binding sites. These effects correlate with NURF301-dependent nucleosome repositioning. At the same time, CP190 and Su(Hw) are also required for recruitment of NURF301 to chromatin. Finally, Oligopaint FISH combined with immunofluorescence revealed that NURF301 promotes 3D contact between insulator bodies and gypsy binding site DNA, and NURF301 is required for proper nuclear positioning of gypsy binding sites. Our data provide new insights into how a nucleosome remodeling factor and insulator proteins cooperatively contribute to nuclear organization.
Project description:Chromatin insulators organize the genome into distinct transcriptional domains and contribute to cell type-specific chromatin organization. However, factors regulating tissue-specific insulator function have not yet been discovered. Here we identify the RNA recognition motif-containing protein, Shep, as a direct interactor of two individual components of the gypsy insulator complex in Drosophila. Mutation of shep improves gypsy-dependent enhancer blocking, indicating a role as a negative regulator of insulator activity. Unlike ubiquitously expressed core gypsy insulator proteins, Shep is highly expressed in the central nervous system (CNS) with lower expression in other tissues. We developed a novel, quantitative tissue-specific barrier assay to demonstrate that Shep functions as a negative regulator of insulator activity in the CNS but not in muscle tissue. Additionally, mutation of shep alters insulator complex nuclear localization in the CNS but not other tissues. Consistent with negative regulatory activity, ChIP-seq analysis of Shep in a CNS-derived cell line indicates substantial genome-wide colocalization with a single gypsy insulator component but limited overlap with intact insulator complexes. Taken together, these data reveal a novel, tissue-specific mode of regulation of a chromatin insulator. ChIP-seq of Shep, Su(Hw), and Mod(mdg4)2.2 in Drosophila BG3 cells along with alternate antibodies
Project description:Genome organization is driven by forces affecting transcriptional state, but the relationship between transcription and genome architecture remains unclear. Here, we identified the Drosophila transcription factor Motif 1 Binding Protein (M1BP) in physical association with the gypsy chromatin insulator core complex, including the universal insulator protein CP190. M1BP is required for enhancer-blocking and barrier activities of the gypsy insulator as well as its proper nuclear localization. Genome-wide, M1BP specifically colocalizes with CP190 at Motif 1-containing promoters, which are enriched at topologically associating domain (TAD) borders. M1BP facilitates CP190 chromatin binding at many shared sites and vice versa. Both factors promote Motif 1-dependent gene expression and transcription near TAD borders genome-wide. Finally, loss of M1BP reduces chromatin accessibility and increases both inter- and intra-TAD local genome compaction. Our results reveal physical and functional interaction between CP190 and M1BP to activate transcription at TAD borders and mediate chromatin insulator-dependent genome organization.
Project description:Chromatin insulators organize the genome into distinct transcriptional domains and contribute to cell type-specific chromatin organization. However, factors regulating tissue-specific insulator function have not yet been discovered. Here we identify the RNA recognition motif-containing protein, Shep, as a direct interactor of two individual components of the gypsy insulator complex in Drosophila. Mutation of shep improves gypsy-dependent enhancer blocking, indicating a role as a negative regulator of insulator activity. Unlike ubiquitously expressed core gypsy insulator proteins, Shep is highly expressed in the central nervous system (CNS) with lower expression in other tissues. We developed a novel, quantitative tissue-specific barrier assay to demonstrate that Shep functions as a negative regulator of insulator activity in the CNS but not in muscle tissue. Additionally, mutation of shep alters insulator complex nuclear localization in the CNS but not other tissues. Consistent with negative regulatory activity, ChIP-seq analysis of Shep in a CNS-derived cell line indicates substantial genome-wide colocalization with a single gypsy insulator component but limited overlap with intact insulator complexes. Taken together, these data reveal a novel, tissue-specific mode of regulation of a chromatin insulator.
Project description:Chromatin insulators are DNA-protein complexes situated throughout the genome that contribute to higher order organization and demarcation into distinct transcriptional domains. Mounting evidence in different species implicates RNA and RNA-binding proteins as regulators of chromatin insulator activities. Here we identify the Drosophila hnRNP M homolog Rumpelstiltskin (Rump) as an antagonist of gypsy chromatin insulator enhancer-blocking and barrier activities. Despite ubiquitous expression of Rump, improvement of barrier activity is detected only in tissue outside of the central nervous system (CNS) when Rump levels are reduced. Furthermore, rump mutants restore insulator complex localization in an otherwise compromised genetic background only in non-CNS tissues. Rump associates physically with core gypsy insulator proteins, and ChIP-Seq analysis of Rump demonstrates extensive colocalization with a subset of gypsy insulator sites across the genome. The genome-wide binding profile and tissue-specificity of Rump contrast with that of Shep, a recently identified RNA-binding protein that antagonizes gypsy insulator activity exclusively in the CNS. Our findings indicate parallel roles for RNA-binding proteins in mediating tissue-specific regulation of chromatin insulator activity. ChIP-seq of Rump, Mod(mdg4)2.2, Shep, Su(Hw), and CP190 in Drosophila Kc167 cells
Project description:In order to identify more gypsy insulator interactors, we performed immunoaffinity purification of Drosophila embryonic nuclear extracts using antibodies specific for CP190 and analyzed the eluates using quantitative mass spectrometry.
Project description:Genome organization is driven by forces affecting transcriptional state, but the relationship between transcription and genome architecture remains unclear. Here, we identified the Drosophila transcription factor Motif 1 Binding Protein (M1BP) in physical association with the gypsy chromatin insulator core complex, including the universal insulator protein CP190. M1BP is required for enhancer-blocking and barrier activities of the gypsy insulator as well as its proper nuclear localization. Genome-wide, M1BP specifically colocalizes with CP190 at Motif 1-containing promoters, which are enriched at topologically associating domain (TAD) borders. M1BP is required for CP190 chromatin binding at many shared sites, and CP190 also affects M1BP chromatin association. Both factors are required for Motif 1-dependent gene expression and transcription near TAD borders genome-wide. Finally, loss of M1BP alters local genome compaction. Our results reveal physical and functional interaction between CP190 and M1BP to activate transcription at TAD borders and mediate chromatin insulator-dependent genome organization.
Project description:Chromatin insulators and Polycomb group (PcG) complexes control nuclear organization to effect changes in gene expression. In Drosophila, RNA silencing pathways influence long range interactions mediated by PcG proteins and nuclear localization of the gypsy insulator; however, the underlying mechanisms are unknown. Here, we identify a singular requirement for Argonaute2 (AGO2) for the activity of the CCCTC-binding factor (CTCF)/Centrosomal protein 190 (CP190) dependent Fab-8 insulator. AGO2 and CP190 interact physically, and genome wide localization of AGO2 by chromatin immunoprecipitation and sequencing (ChIP-seq) reveals extensive colocalization of AGO2 with insulators and Polycomb Response Elements (PREs) but minimal overlap with regions of endogenous small interfering RNA (endo-siRNA) production. Finally, depletion of either CTCF or CP190 results in loss of AGO2 association with insulators, PREs, and other cis-regulatory regions. Our findings suggest that Dicer-independent recruitment of AGO2 to chromatin by insulator proteins promotes the definition of transcriptional domains throughout the genome. ChIP-seq of AGO2 in two Drosophila cell types (S2 and S3)
Project description:Chromatin insulators are DNA-protein complexes localized throughout the genome capable of establishing independent transcriptional domains. It was previously reported that the Drosophila su(Hw) mRNA physically associates with the gypsy chromatin insulator protein complex within the nucleus and may serve a noncoding function to affect insulator activity. However, how this mRNA is recruited to the gypsy complex is not known. Here we utilized RNA-affinity pull down coupled with mass spectrometry to identify a novel RNA-binding protein, Isha, that associates with su(Hw) mRNA in vitro and in vivo. Isha harbors a conserved RNA recognition motif (RRM) and RNA Polymerase II CTD-interacting domain (CID). We found that Isha physically interacts with total and elongating RNA Pol II and associates with chromatin at the 5’ end of genes in an RNA-dependent manner. Furthermore, ChIP-seq analysis reveals Isha overlaps particularly with gypsy factor CP190 on chromatin. Depletion of Isha reduces enhancer-blocking and barrier activities of the gypsy insulator and disrupts the nuclear localization of insulator bodies. Our results reveal a novel factor that promotes gypsy insulator activity that may act as a nuclear RNA-binding protein adapter for su(Hw) noncoding mRNA.