Identification of enhancer regulatory elements that direct epicardial gene expression during zebrafish heart regeneration.

ABSTRACT: The epicardium is a mesothelial tissue layer that envelops the heart. Cardiac injury activates dynamic gene expression programs in epicardial tissue, which in zebrafish enables subsequent regeneration through paracrine and vascularizing effects. To identify tissue regeneration enhancer elements (TREEs) that control injury-induced epicardial gene expression during heart regeneration, we profiled transcriptomes and chromatin accessibility in epicardial cells purified from regenerating zebrafish hearts. We identified hundreds of candidate TREEs, which are defined by increased chromatin accessibility of non-coding elements near genes with increased expression during regeneration. Several of these candidate TREEs were incorporated into stable transgenic lines, with five out of six elements dire

SUBMITTER: Cao Y 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8918790 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature