Project description:Nuclear receptor TR4 was previously shown to bind to the -117 position of the gamma-globin gene promoters in vitro, which overlaps with the BCL11A binding site recently described. The role of TR4 in human gamma-globin gene repression has not been extensively characterized in vivo, and the relationship between TR4 and BCL11A binding to the gamma-globin promoters remained elusive. We showed in vitro that TR4 and BCL11A competitively bind to overlapping but distinct consensus sequences which both include the -117 position of the gamma-globin promoter. We show here that TR4 represses gamma-globin transcription and HbF accumulation in a BCL11A-independent manner. We characterized the chromatin occupancy of TR4 within the beta-globin locus in comparison to BCL11A and found that both bind to the hypersensitive sites avidly but only BCL11A binds to the gamma-globin promoters at significant levels, suggesting that BCL11A is the predominant repressor acting through the -117 gamma-globin promoter sequence in vivo. These data resolve an important discrepancy in the literature, and thus helps to clarify possible approaches to treatments for sickle cell disease or beta-thalassaemia.
Project description:Through a CRISPR-Cas9 guided loss-of-function screen in human erythroid cells we identified transcription factor ATF4, a known HRI-regulated protein, as a novel γ-globin repressor. ATF4 binds to a BCL11A enhancer to augment promoter contacts, stimulates BCL11A transcription to repress γ-globin expression. Notably, mice deficient for HRI displayed normal Bcl11a levels, suggesting species selective regulation that we explain here by demonstrating that the analogous ATF4 motif at the murine Bcl11a enhancer is largely dispensable. This illustrates potential limits of commonly used murine models of globin gene regulation.
Project description:Through a CRISPR-Cas9 guided loss-of-function screen in human erythroid cells we identified transcription factor ATF4, a known HRI-regulated protein, as a novel γ-globin repressor. ATF4 binds to a BCL11A enhancer to augment promoter contacts, stimulates BCL11A transcription to repress γ-globin expression. Notably, mice deficient for HRI displayed normal Bcl11a levels, suggesting species selective regulation that we explain here by demonstrating that the analogous ATF4 motif at the murine Bcl11a enhancer is largely dispensable. This illustrates potential limits of commonly used murine models of globin gene regulation.
Project description:BCL11A, the major regulator of HbF(α2γ2) level, represses γ-globin expression through direct promoter binding in adult erythroid cells in a switch to adult adult-type HbA (α2β2) production. Yet, the mechanism remains unclear. To uncover how BCL11A initiates repression, we used CRISPR/Cas9 and dCas9 screens to dissect the γ-globin promoters and identified an apparent activator element near the BCL11A binding region. Using CUT&RUN and base editing approaches, we demonstrate that this element, the proximal CCAAT box, is the binding site of transcription activator NF-Y. BCL11A competes with NF-Y binding through steric hindrance to initiate γ-globin repression, and the distance between the two motifs is critical for direct competition. Occupancy of NF-Y is rapidly established upon BCL11A depletion, and precedes γ-globin derepression and LCR-globin loop formation. Our findings reveal that the critical fetal-to-adult hemoglobin switch is initiated by the competition between transcription factors within a discrete region in the γ-globin promoters.
Project description:BCL11A, the major regulator of HbF(α2γ2) level, represses γ-globin expression through direct promoter binding in adult erythroid cells in a switch to adult adult-type HbA (α2β2) production. Yet, the mechanism remains unclear. To uncover how BCL11A initiates repression, we used CRISPR/Cas9 and dCas9 screens to dissect the γ-globin promoters and identified an apparent activator element near the BCL11A binding region. Using CUT&RUN and base editing approaches, we demonstrate that this element, the proximal CCAAT box, is the binding site of transcription activator NF-Y. BCL11A competes with NF-Y binding through steric hindrance to initiate γ-globin repression, and the distance between the two motifs is critical for direct competition. Occupancy of NF-Y is rapidly established upon BCL11A depletion, and precedes γ-globin derepression and LCR-globin loop formation. Our findings reveal that the critical fetal-to-adult hemoglobin switch is initiated by the competition between transcription factors within a discrete region in the γ-globin promoters.
Project description:BCL11A, the major regulator of HbF(α2γ2) level, represses γ-globin expression through direct promoter binding in adult erythroid cells in a switch to adult adult-type HbA (α2β2) production. Yet, the mechanism remains unclear. To uncover how BCL11A initiates repression, we used CRISPR/Cas9 and dCas9 screens to dissect the γ-globin promoters and identified an apparent activator element near the BCL11A binding region. Using CUT&RUN and base editing approaches, we demonstrate that this element, the proximal CCAAT box, is the binding site of transcription activator NF-Y. BCL11A competes with NF-Y binding through steric hindrance to initiate γ-globin repression, and the distance between the two motifs is critical for direct competition. Occupancy of NF-Y is rapidly established upon BCL11A depletion, and precedes γ-globin derepression and LCR-globin loop formation. Our findings reveal that the critical fetal-to-adult hemoglobin switch is initiated by the competition between transcription factors within a discrete region in the γ-globin promoters.
Project description:Fetal hemoglobin (HbF) level is genetically controlled and modifies severity of adult hemoglobin (HbA) disorders. Common genetic variation affects expression of BCL11A, a critical regulator of HbF silencing. Current models suggest that BCL11A acts at a distance from the gamma-globin genes via long-distance chromosomal interactions. Here we use a functional cellular assay and protein-binding microarray to establish a requirement for a zinc-finger cluster of BCL11A for globin repression, and identify a preferred DNA recognition sequence (TGACCA). The motif is present in embryonic and fetal-expressed globin promoters, and duplicated in gamma-globin promoters, yet only the distal motif is mutated in alleles of individuals with hereditary persistence of hemoglobin. Using CUT&RUN to map protein binding sites, we detected BCL11A occupancy preferentially at the distal motif, and validated its absence in HbF-expressing, promoter-edited erythroid cells. Taken together, our findings reveal that direct gamma-globin gene promoter repression by BCL11A underlies hemoglobin switching.
Project description:The switch from fetal to adult hemoglobin production has been studied in great depth in part because of its relevance to the treatment of hemolobinopathies. Transcription factor BCL11A, which is essential for repression of the fetal beta-type globin (γ-globin) genes after birth, is largely controlled at the level of transcription but the mechanism of BCL11A developmental control is unknown. Here, using a CRISPR-Cas9 screen in human erythroblasts, we identify transcription factor HIC2 as a repressor of BCL11A transcription. HIC2 and BCL11A expression are anti-correlated in fetal and adult erythroblasts. Forced expression of HIC2 in adult erythroblasts silences BCL11A transcription and markedly induces γ-globin expression. HIC2 binds selectively to constituent erythroid developmental BCL11A enhancer to reduce chromatin accessibility and impair access by transcription factor GATA1, resulting in loss of enhancer activity and enhancer-promoter contacts. Conversely, loss of HIC2 in fetal erythroblasts increases enhancer accessibility, enables GATA1 binding and induces BCL11A transcription. HIC2 is unveiled as a critical evolutionarily conserved regulator of globin gene switching by imposing developmental control on the BCL11A gene.
Project description:The switch from fetal to adult hemoglobin production has been studied in great depth in part because of its relevance to the treatment of hemolobinopathies. Transcription factor BCL11A, which is essential for repression of the fetal beta-type globin (γ-globin) genes after birth, is largely controlled at the level of transcription but the mechanism of BCL11A developmental control is unknown. Here, using a CRISPR-Cas9 screen in human erythroblasts, we identify transcription factor HIC2 as a repressor of BCL11A transcription. HIC2 and BCL11A expression are anti-correlated in fetal and adult erythroblasts. Forced expression of HIC2 in adult erythroblasts silences BCL11A transcription and markedly induces γ-globin expression. HIC2 binds selectively to constituent erythroid developmental BCL11A enhancer to reduce chromatin accessibility and impair access by transcription factor GATA1, resulting in loss of enhancer activity and enhancer-promoter contacts. Conversely, loss of HIC2 in fetal erythroblasts increases enhancer accessibility, enables GATA1 binding and induces BCL11A transcription. HIC2 is unveiled as a critical evolutionarily conserved regulator of globin gene switching by imposing developmental control on the BCL11A gene.
Project description:BCL11A, the major regulator of HbF(α2γ2) level, represses γ-globin expression through direct promoter binding in adult erythroid cells in a switch to adult adult-type HbA (α2β2) production. Yet, the mechanism remains unclear. To uncover how BCL11A initiates repression, we used CRISPR/Cas9 and dCas9 screens to dissect the γ-globin promoters and identified an apparent activator element near the BCL11A binding region. Using CUT&RUN and base editing approaches, we demonstrate that this element, the proximal CCAAT box, is the binding site of transcription activator NF-Y. BCL11A competes with NF-Y binding through steric hindrance to initiate γ-globin repression, and the distance between the two motifs is critical for direct competition. Occupancy of NF-Y is rapidly established upon BCL11A depletion, and precedes γ-globin derepression and LCR-globin loop formation. Our findings reveal that the critical fetal-to-adult hemoglobin switch is initiated by the competition between transcription factors within a discrete region in the γ-globin promoters.