Project description:Induction and reversal of chromatin silencing is critical for successful development, tissue homeostasis and the derivation of induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs). X-chromosome inactivation (XCI) and reactivation (XCR) in female cells represent chromosome-wide transitions between active and inactive chromatin states. While XCI has long been studied and provided important insights into gene regulation, the dynamics and mechanisms underlying the reversal of stable chromatin silencing of X-linked genes are much less understood. In this work, we use allele-resolution transcriptomic approaches to study XCR during mouse iPSC reprogramming in order to elucidate the timing and mechanisms of chromosome-wide reversal of gene silencing. Our findings reveal a sequential hierarchy of gene reactivation from the inactive X-chromosome (Xi). We show that gene reactivation initiates before the activation of late pluripotency genes and complete silencing of the long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) Xist, and is completed late in reprogramming. We reveal that the gene-specific timing of reactivation correlates with the genomic distance to genes that escape inactivation and with differential targeting by pluripotency transcription factors (TFs). We also show that histone deacetylases restrict XCR in reprogramming intermediates and that the severe hypoacetylation state of the Xi persists until late reprogramming stages. Therefore, randomly inactivated X-linked genes possess different degrees of epigenetic memory, the reversal of which may involve the combined action of chromatin regulators, pluripotency transcription factors and chromatin topology. Taken together, our study provides the chromosome-wide dynamics of gene reactivation from the randomly inactivated X-chromosome and a framework for understanding how transcription factors induce dynamic reversal of stable epigenetic memory by overcoming repressive chromatin barriers.
Project description:Recent reports have proposed a new paradigm for obtaining mature somatic cell types from fibroblasts without going through a pluripotent state, by briefly expressing canonical iPSC reprogramming factors Oct4, Sox2, Klf4 and c-Myc (abbreviated as OSKM), in cells expanded in lineage differentiation promoting conditions. Here we apply genetic lineage tracing for endogenous Nanog, Oct4 and X chromosome reactivation during OSKM induced trans-differentiation, as these molecular events mark final stages for acquisition of induced pluripotency. Remarkably, the vast majority of reprogrammed cardiomyocytes or neural stem cells derived from mouse fibroblasts via OSKM mediated trans-differentiation were attained after transient acquisition of pluripotency, and followed by rapid differentiation. Our findings underscore a molecular and functional coupling between inducing pluripotency and obtaining “trans-differentiated” somatic cells via OSKM induction, and have implications on defining molecular trajectories assumed during different cell reprogramming methods. poly RNA-Seq and Chromatin accesibility (ATAC-seq) were measured during conversion of mouse embryonic fibroblasts to neural stem cells using OSKM trans-differentiation method, as well as in mouse emrbyonic fibroblasts, iPSCs and mouse ESCs.
Project description:Recent reports have proposed a new paradigm for obtaining mature somatic cell types from fibroblasts without going through a pluripotent state, by briefly expressing canonical iPSC reprogramming factors Oct4, Sox2, Klf4 and c-Myc (abbreviated as OSKM), in cells expanded in lineage differentiation promoting conditions. Here we apply genetic lineage tracing for endogenous Nanog, Oct4 and X chromosome reactivation during OSKM induced trans-differentiation, as these molecular events mark final stages for acquisition of induced pluripotency. Remarkably, the vast majority of reprogrammed cardiomyocytes or neural stem cells derived from mouse fibroblasts via OSKM mediated trans-differentiation were attained after transient acquisition of pluripotency, and followed by rapid differentiation. Our findings underscore a molecular and functional coupling between inducing pluripotency and obtaining “trans-differentiated” somatic cells via OSKM induction, and have implications on defining molecular trajectories assumed during different cell reprogramming methods. WGBS (Whole-Genome-Bisulfite-sequencing) were measured during conversion of mouse embryonic fibroblasts to neural stem cells using OSKM trans-differentiation method, as well as in mouse emrbyonic fibroblasts, and mouse ESCs.
Project description:Pluripotency can be induced in somatic cells by ectopic expression of defined transcription factors, however the identity of epigenetic regulators driving the progression of cellular reprogramming requires further investigation. Here we uncover a non-redundant role for the JmjC-domain-containing protein histone H3 methylated Lys 27 (H3K27) demethylase Utx, as a critical regulator for the induction, but not for the maintenance, of primed and naM-CM-/ve pluripotency in mice and in humans. Utx depletion results in aberrant H3K27me3 repressive chromatin demethylation dynamics, which subsequently hampers the reactivation of pluripotency promoting genes during reprogramming. Remarkably, Utx deficient primordial germ cells (PGCs) display a cell autonomous aberrant epigenetic reprogramming in vivo during their embryonic maturation, resulting in the lack of functional contribution to the germ-line lineage. H3K27me3 and H3K4me3 were measured genome-wide in the following cell types: Utx+/Y (WT) and Utx-/Y (KO) mouse ES cells and mouse embryonic fibroblast (MEF) before and after DOX induction (initiating reprogramming by OSKM factors).
Project description:Reactivation of the pluripotency network during somatic cell reprogramming by exogenous transcription factors involves chromatin remodeling and the recruitment of RNA polymerase II (Pol II) to target loci. Here, we report that Pol II is engaged at pluripotency promoters in reprogramming but remains paused and inefficiently released. We also show that bromodomain-containing protein 4 (BRD4) stimulates productive transcriptional elongation of pluripotency genes by dissociating the pause release factor P-TEFb from an inactive complex containing HEXIM1. Consequently, BRD4 overexpression enhances reprogramming efficiency and HEXIM1 suppresses it, whereas Brd4 and Hexim1 knockdown do the opposite. We further demonstrate that the reprogramming factor KLF4 helps recruit P-TEFb to pluripotency promoters. Our work thus provides a mechanism for explaining the reactivation of pluripotency genes in reprogramming and unveils an unanticipated role for KLF4 in transcriptional pause release. Pol II ChIP-seq for MEFs, ESCs and bulk populations of OSKM reprogramming intermediates at two time points.
Project description:Erasure of epigenetic memory is required to convert somatic cells towards pluripotency. Reactivation of the inactive X chromosome (Xi) has been used to model epigenetic reprogramming in mouse, but human studies are hampered by Xi epigenetic instability and difficulties in tracking partially reprogrammed iPSCs. Here we used cell fusion to examine the earliest events in the reprogramming-induced Xi reactivation of human female fibroblasts. We show a rapid and widespread loss of Xi-associated H3K27me3 and XIST in fused cells that precedes the bi-allelic expression of selected Xi-genes by many heterokaryons (30-50%). After cell division, RNA-FISH and RNA-Seq analysis confirmed that Xi reactivation remained partial and showed that induction of human pluripotency-specific XACT transcripts occurred, but was rare (1%). These data effectively separate pre- and post-mitotic events in reprogramming-induced Xi reactivation, and suggest a hierarchy where early events such as XIST-delocalisation, are required but are insufficient to establish stable human X reactivation. We performed RNA-sequencing of human fibroblast clones derived from TERT-immortalised NHDF17914 (Lonza) before and at 5 days after fusion with mouse ESC (E14Tg2a:puroR). Two biological replicates were performed and sequenced.
Project description:Recent reports have proposed a new paradigm for obtaining mature somatic cell types from fibroblasts without going through a pluripotent state, by briefly expressing canonical iPSC reprogramming factors Oct4, Sox2, Klf4 and c-Myc (abbreviated as OSKM), in cells expanded in lineage differentiation promoting conditions. Here we apply genetic lineage tracing for endogenous Nanog, Oct4 and X chromosome reactivation during OSKM induced trans-differentiation, as these molecular events mark final stages for acquisition of induced pluripotency. Remarkably, the vast majority of reprogrammed cardiomyocytes or neural stem cells derived from mouse fibroblasts via OSKM mediated trans-differentiation were attained after transient acquisition of pluripotency, and followed by rapid differentiation. Our findings underscore a molecular and functional coupling between inducing pluripotency and obtaining “trans-differentiated” somatic cells via OSKM induction, and have implications on defining molecular trajectories assumed during different cell reprogramming methods. poly RNA-Seq was measured before, during and after conversion of mouse embryonic fibroblasts to neural stem cells using OSKM trans-differentiation method.
Project description:A dramatic difference in global DNA methylation between male and female cells characterizes mouse embryonic stem cells (ESCs), unlike somatic cells. We analyzed DNA methylation changes during reprogramming of male and female somatic cells and in resulting induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs). At an intermediate reprogramming stage, somatic and pluripotency enhancers are targeted for partial methylation and demethylation. Demethylation within pluripotency enhancers often occurs at ESC binding sites of pluripotency transcription factors. Late in reprogramming, global hypomethylation is induced in a female-specific manner. Genome-wide hypomethylation in female cells affects many genomic landmarks, including enhancers and imprint control regions, and accompanies the reactivation of the inactive X-chromosome. The loss of one of the two X-chromosomes in propagating female iPSCs is associated with genome-wide methylation gain. Collectively, our findings highlight the dynamic regulation of DNA methylation at enhancers during reprogramming and reveal that X-chromosome dosage dictates global DNA methylation levels in iPSCs.
Project description:Recent reports have proposed a new paradigm for obtaining mature somatic cell types from fibroblasts without going through a pluripotent state, by briefly expressing canonical iPSC reprogramming factors Oct4, Sox2, Klf4 and c-Myc (abbreviated as OSKM), in cells expanded in lineage differentiation promoting conditions. Here we apply genetic lineage tracing for endogenous Nanog, Oct4 and X chromosome reactivation during OSKM induced trans-differentiation, as these molecular events mark final stages for acquisition of induced pluripotency. Remarkably, the vast majority of reprogrammed cardiomyocytes or neural stem cells derived from mouse fibroblasts via OSKM mediated trans-differentiation were attained after transient acquisition of pluripotency, and followed by rapid differentiation. Our findings underscore a molecular and functional coupling between inducing pluripotency and obtaining “trans-differentiated” somatic cells via OSKM induction, and have implications on defining molecular trajectories assumed during different cell reprogramming methods.
Project description:Reprogramming to iPSCs resets the epigenome of somatic cells including the reversal of X chromosome-inactivation. We sought to gain insight into the steps underlying the reprogramming process by examining the means by which reprogramming leads to X chromosome-reactivation (XCR). Analyzing single cells in situ, we found that hallmarks of the inactive X (Xi) change sequentially, providing a direct readout of reprogramming progression. Several epigenetic changes on the Xi occur in the inverse order of developmental X-inactivation, while others are uncoupled from this sequence. Among the latter, DNA methylation has an extraordinary long persistence on the Xi during reprogramming, and, like Xist expression, is erased only after pluripotency genes are activated. Mechanistically, XCR requires both DNA demethylation and Xist silencing, ensuring that only cells undergoing faithful reprogramming initiate XCR. Our study defines the epigenetic state of multiple sequential reprogramming intermediates and establishes a paradigm for studying cell fate transitions during reprogramming. RRBS profiles were generated from female and male ES cells, female iPS cells, SSEA1+ and SSEA1- reprogramming intermediates, and male and female MEFs, for a total of 18 samples.