Widespread Chromatin Accessibility at Repetitive Elements Links Stem Cells with Human Cancer.

ABSTRACT: Chromatin regulation is critical for differentiation and disease. However, features linking the chromatin environment of stem cells with disease remain largely unknown. We explored chromatin accessibility in embryonic and multipotent stem cells and unexpectedly identified widespread chromatin accessibility at repetitive elements. Integrating genomic and biochemical approaches, we demonstrate that these sites of increased accessibility are associated with well-positioned nucleosomes marked by distinct histone modifications. Differentiation is accompanied by chromatin remodeling at repetitive elements associated with altered expression of genes in relevant developmental pathways. Remarkably, we found that the chromatin environment of Ewing sarcoma, a mesenchymally derived tumor, is shared wi

SUBMITTER: Gomez NC 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5267842 | biostudies-literature | 2016 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature