Project description:The Polycomb Repressive Complex 2 (PRC2) is a conserved enzyme that tri-methylates Lysine 27 on Histone 3 (H3K27me3) to promote gene silencing. PRC2 is remarkably responsive to the expression of certain long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs). In the most notable example, PRC2 is recruited to the X-chromosome shortly after expression of the lncRNA Xist begins during X-chromosome inactivation. However, the mechanisms by which lncRNAs recruit PRC2 to chromatin are not yet clear. We report that a broadly used rabbit monoclonal antibody raised against human EZH2, a catalytic subunit of PRC2, cross-reacts with an RNA-binding protein called Scaffold Attachment Factor B (SAFB) in mouse embryonic stem cells (ESCs) under buffer conditions that are commonly used for chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP). Knockout of EZH2 in ESCs demonstrated that the antibody is specific for EZH2 by western blot (no cross-reactivity). Likewise, comparison to previously published datasets confirmed that the antibody recovers PRC2-bound sites by ChIP-Seq. However, RNA-IP from formaldehyde-crosslinked ESCs using ChIP wash conditions recovers distinct peaks of RNA association that co-localize with peaks of SAFB and whose enrichment disappears upon knockout of SAFB but not EZH2. IP and mass spectrometry-based proteomics in wild-type and EZH2 knockout ESCs confirm that the EZH2 antibody recovers SAFB in an EZH2-independent manner. Our data highlight the importance of orthogonal assays when studying interactions between chromatin-modifying enzymes and RNA.
Project description:The Polycomb Repressive Complex 2 (PRC2) is a conserved enzyme that tri-methylates Lysine 27 on Histone 3 (H3K27me3) to promote gene silencing. PRC2 is remarkably responsive to the expression of certain long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs). In the most notable example, PRC2 is recruited to the X-chromosome shortly after expression of the lncRNA Xist begins during X-chromosome inactivation. However, the mechanisms by which lncRNAs recruit PRC2 to chromatin are not yet clear. We report that a broadly used rabbit monoclonal antibody raised against human EZH2, a catalytic subunit of PRC2, cross-reacts with an RNA-binding protein called Scaffold Attachment Factor B (SAFB) in mouse embryonic stem cells (ESCs) under buffer conditions that are commonly used for chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP). Knockout of EZH2 in ESCs demonstrated that the antibody is specific for EZH2 by western blot (no cross-reactivity). Likewise, comparison to previously published datasets confirmed that the antibody recovers PRC2-bound sites by ChIP-Seq. However, RNA-IP from formaldehyde-crosslinked ESCs using ChIP wash conditions recovers distinct peaks of RNA association that co-localize with peaks of SAFB and whose enrichment disappears upon knockout of SAFB but not EZH2. IP and mass spectrometry-based proteomics in wild-type and EZH2 knockout ESCs confirm that the EZH2 antibody recovers SAFB in an EZH2-independent manner. Our data highlight the importance of orthogonal assays when studying interactions between chromatin-modifying enzymes and RNA.
Project description:The Polycomb Repressive Complex 2 (PRC2) is a conserved enzyme that tri-methylates Lysine 27 on Histone 3 (H3K27me3) to promote gene silencing. PRC2 is remarkably responsive to the expression of certain long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs). In the most notable example, PRC2 is recruited to the X-chromosome shortly after expression of the lncRNA Xist begins during X-chromosome inactivation. However, the mechanisms by which lncRNAs recruit PRC2 to chromatin are not yet clear. We report that a broadly used rabbit monoclonal antibody raised against human EZH2, a catalytic subunit of PRC2, cross-reacts with an RNA-binding protein called Scaffold Attachment Factor B (SAFB) in mouse embryonic stem cells (ESCs) under buffer conditions that are commonly used for chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP). Knockout of EZH2 in ESCs demonstrated that the antibody is specific for EZH2 by western blot (no cross-reactivity). Likewise, comparison to previously published datasets confirmed that the antibody recovers PRC2-bound sites by ChIP-Seq. However, RNA-IP from formaldehyde-crosslinked ESCs using ChIP wash conditions recovers distinct peaks of RNA association that co-localize with peaks of SAFB and whose enrichment disappears upon knockout of SAFB but not EZH2. IP and mass spectrometry-based proteomics in wild-type and EZH2 knockout ESCs confirm that the EZH2 antibody recovers SAFB in an EZH2-independent manner. Our data highlight the importance of orthogonal assays when studying interactions between chromatin-modifying enzymes and RNA.
Project description:Scaffold Attachment Factor B (SAFB) is a conserved RNA Binding Protein (RBP) that is essential for early mammalian development. However, the RNAs that associate with SAFB in mouse embryonic stem cells have not been characterized. Here, we addressed this unknown using RNA-seq and SAFB RNA immunoprecipitation followed by RNA-seq (RIP-seq) in wild-type mouse embryonic stem cells (ESCs) and in ESCs in which SAFB and SAFB2 were knocked out. The transcript most enriched in SAFB association was the lncRNA Malat1, which contains a series of purine-rich motifs in its 5 end. Beyond Malat1, SAFB predominantly associated with introns of protein-coding genes also through purine-rich motifs. Knockout of SAFB/2 led to down- and upregulation of genes in multiple biological pathways. The nascent transcripts of many downregulated genes associated with high levels of SAFB in wild-type cells, implying that SAFB binding promotes the expression of these genes. Reintroduction of SAFB into double-knockout cells restored gene expression towards wild-type levels, an effect that was again observable at the level of nascent transcripts. Proteomic analyses indicate an enrichment of nuclear speckle-associated, SR proteins in FLAG-tagged SAFB immunoprecipitated samples. Comparison to immunoprecipitates made from FLAG-tagging of another nuclear-enriched RNA-binding protein called HNRNPU (also known as SAF-A) identified both similarities and differences. Perhaps most notably, we observed a stronger enrichment for speckle-associated proteins in SAFB immunoprecipitations and a strong enrichment for paraspeckle-associated proteins in HNRNPU immunoprecipitations. Our findings suggest that among other potential functions in mouse embryonic stem cells, SAFB directly promotes the expression of a subset of genes through its ability to bind purine regions in nascent RNA.
Project description:Eukaryotic chromosomes fold into topologically associating domains (TADs), which further gather in active (A) or inactive (B) genomic compartments. Here we show that Scaffold Attachment Factor B (SAFB), a nuclear matrix-associated protein with RNA binding functions, modulates global chromatin condensation in a dosage-dependent manner. Upon the depletion of SAFB, the genome coverage of Lamina-associated-domains (LADs) decreases from 53.33% to 45.93%, and both inter- and intra-TAD chromatin-chromatin interactions in compartment B decrease significantly. In the nucleus, SAFB favorably co-localizes with H3K9me3, a marker of heterochromatin, and the disruption of SAFB leads to a collapse of H3K9me3 foci. Furthermore, we show that SAFB proteins can form liquid-liquid phase separation in the cell and in vitro. Intriguingly, SAFB interacts with RNAs from repetitive elements enriched in heterochromatin (e.g., Major Satellites and LINE1), which can promote SAFB-mediated phase separation, depending on the density of SAFB recognizing motifs in the RNAs.
Project description:Eukaryotic chromosomes fold into topologically associating domains (TADs), which further gather in active (A) or inactive (B) genomic compartments. Here we show that Scaffold Attachment Factor B (SAFB), a nuclear matrix-associated protein with RNA binding functions, modulates global chromatin condensation in a dosage-dependent manner. Upon the depletion of SAFB, the genome coverage of Lamina-associated-domains (LADs) decreases from 53.33% to 45.93%, and both inter- and intra-TAD chromatin-chromatin interactions in compartment B decrease significantly. In the nucleus, SAFB favorably co-localizes with H3K9me3, a marker of heterochromatin, and the disruption of SAFB leads to a collapse of H3K9me3 foci. Furthermore, we show that SAFB proteins can form liquid-liquid phase separation in the cell and in vitro. Intriguingly, SAFB interacts with RNAs from repetitive elements enriched in heterochromatin (e.g., Major Satellites and LINE1), which can promote SAFB-mediated phase separation, depending on the density of SAFB recognizing motifs in the RNAs.
Project description:Eukaryotic chromosomes fold into topologically associating domains (TADs), which further gather in active (A) or inactive (B) genomic compartments. Here we show that Scaffold Attachment Factor B (SAFB), a nuclear matrix-associated protein with RNA binding functions, modulates global chromatin condensation in a dosage-dependent manner. Upon the depletion of SAFB, the genome coverage of Lamina-associated-domains (LADs) decreases from 53.33% to 45.93%, and both inter- and intra-TAD chromatin-chromatin interactions in compartment B decrease significantly. In the nucleus, SAFB favorably co-localizes with H3K9me3, a marker of heterochromatin, and the disruption of SAFB leads to a collapse of H3K9me3 foci. Furthermore, we show that SAFB proteins can form liquid-liquid phase separation in the cell and in vitro. Intriguingly, SAFB interacts with RNAs from repetitive elements enriched in heterochromatin (e.g., Major Satellites and LINE1), which can promote SAFB-mediated phase separation, depending on the density of SAFB recognizing motifs in the RNAs.
Project description:Eukaryotic chromosomes fold into topologically associating domains (TADs), which further gather in active (A) or inactive (B) genomic compartments. Here we show that Scaffold Attachment Factor B (SAFB), a nuclear matrix-associated protein with RNA binding functions, modulates global chromatin condensation in a dosage-dependent manner. Upon the depletion of SAFB, the genome coverage of Lamina-associated-domains (LADs) decreases from 53.33% to 45.93%, and both inter- and intra-TAD chromatin-chromatin interactions in compartment B decrease significantly. In the nucleus, SAFB favorably co-localizes with H3K9me3, a marker of heterochromatin, and the disruption of SAFB leads to a collapse of H3K9me3 foci. Furthermore, we show that SAFB proteins can form liquid-liquid phase separation in the cell and in vitro. Intriguingly, SAFB interacts with RNAs from repetitive elements enriched in heterochromatin (e.g., Major Satellites and LINE1), which can promote SAFB-mediated phase separation, depending on the density of SAFB recognizing motifs in the RNAs.