Dynamics of broad H3K4me3 domains uncover an epigenetic switch between cell identity and cancer-related genes.

ABSTRACT: Broad domains of H3K4 methylation have been associated with consistent expression of tissue-specific, cell identity, and tumor suppressor genes. Here, we identified broad domain-associated genes in healthy human thymic T cell populations and a collection of T cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL) primary samples and cell lines. We found that broad domains are highly dynamic throughout T cell differentiation, and their varying breadth allows the distinction between normal and neoplastic cells. Although broad domains preferentially associate with cell identity and tumor suppressor genes in normal thymocytes, they flag key oncogenes in T-ALL samples. Moreover, the expression of broad domain-associated genes, both coding and noncoding, is frequently deregulated in T-ALL. Using two distinct

SUBMITTER: Belhocine M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9341507 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature