Project description:Transcription factor (TF) networks determine cell fate in hematopoiesis. However, how TFs cooperate with other regulatory mechanisms to instruct transcription remains poorly understood. We demonstrate in small pre-B cells, that the lineage restricted epigenetic reader BRWD1 closes early development enhancers and opens the enhancers of late B lymphopoiesis to TF binding. BRWD1 differentially regulated over 7000 genes including repressing proliferative and inducing differentiation programs. However, BRWD1 did not regulate expression of transcription factors required for B lymphopoiesis. Hypogammaglobulinemia patients with BRWD1 mutations had B cell transcriptional profiles and enhancer landscapes similar to those observed in Brwd1-/- mice. These data indicate that in both mice and humans, BRWD1 is a master orchestrator of enhancer accessibility that cooperates with TF networks to drive late B cell development.
Project description:In B lymphopoiesis, activation of the pre-B cell antigen receptor (pre-BCR) is associated with both cell cycle exit and Igk recombination. Yet, how the pre-BCR mediates these functions remains unclear. Herein, we demonstrate that the pre-BCR initiates a feed-forward IRF4-CXC Receptor 4 (CXCR4) amplification loop. ERK activation by CXCR4 then directs the development of small and immature B cells including orchestrating cell cycle exit, pre-BCR repression, Igk recombination and BCR expression. In contrast, escape from IL-7 and pre-BCR expression have only modest effects on B cell developmental transcriptional and epigenetic programs. These data demonstrate a direct and central role for CXCR4 in orchestrating late B cell lymphopoiesis. Furthermore, in the context of previous findings, our data provide a three-receptor system sufficient to recapitulate the essential features of B lymphopoiesis in vitro.
Project description:Herpesviruses have a group of genes earmarked for expression late in the infection. Beta- and gammaherpesviruses utilize a six-member set of viral late transcription factors to selectively activate these genes by binding to a DNA sequence signature in gene promoters. We made an unexpected discovery that differences in sequence signature configures the late gene expression program for human cytomegalovirus, a beta-herpesvirus of global public health importance. Diversity in signature patterns expands promoter targets and pre-sets amount of individual promoter output. A unique palindromic sequence signature is linked to the activation of back-to-back promoters at multiple locations in the viral genome. We deduce that diversity in late transcription factor targets functionally orchestrates the productive rollout of the late-stage infection. This may be a generalizable feature adopted by beta- and gammaherpesvirus subfamilies.
Project description:We described a new culture system that can expand the developmental potential of pluripotent stem cells to contribute efficiently to extraembryonic lineage development. To compare the epigenetic landscape of expanded potential stem cells (EPSCs) and standard embryonic stem cells, we performed ChIP-seq study on multiple histone modifications to establish the epigenetic landscape of EPSCs.
Project description:Cell state evolution underlies tumor development and response to therapy1, but mechanisms specifying cancer cell states and intratumor heterogeneity are incompletely understood. Schwannomas are the most common tumors of the peripheral nervous system and are treated with surgery and ionizing radiation2–5. Schwannomas can oscillate in size for many years after radiotherapy6,7, suggesting treatment may reprogram schwannoma cells or the tumor microenvironment. Here we show epigenetic reprogramming shapes the cellular landscape of schwannomas. We find schwannomas are comprised of 2 molecular groups distinguished by reactivation of neural crest development pathways or misactivation of nerve injury mechanisms that specify cancer cell states and the architecture of the tumor immune microenvironment. Schwannoma molecular groups can arise independently, but ionizing radiation is sufficient for epigenetic reprogramming of neural crest to immune-enriched schwannoma by remodeling chromatin accessibility, gene expression, and metabolism to drive schwannoma cell state evolution and immune cell infiltration. To define functional genomic mechanisms underlying epigenetic reprograming of schwannomas, we develop a technique for simultaneous interrogation of chromatin accessibility and gene expression coupled with genetic and therapeutic perturbations in single-nuclei. Our results elucidate a framework for understanding epigenetic drivers of cancer evolution and establish a paradigm of epigenetic reprograming of cancer in response to radiotherapy.
Project description:Pax5 controls the identity and development of B cells by repressing lineage-inappropriate genes and activating B-cell-specific genes. Here, we used genome-wide approaches to identify Pax5 target genes in pro-B and mature B cells. In these cell types, Pax5 bound to 40% of the cis- regulatory elements defined by mapping Dnase I hypersensitive (DHS) sites, transcription start sites and histone modifications. Although Pax5 bound to 8,000 target genes, it regulated only 4% of them in pro-B and mature B cells by inducing enhancers at activated genes and eliminating DHS sites at repressed genes. Pax5-regulated genes in pro-B cells account for 23% of all expression changes occurring between common lymphoid progenitors and committed pro-B cells, which identifies Pax5 as an important regulator of this developmental transition. Regulated Pax5 target genes minimally overlap in pro-B and mature B cells, which reflects massive expression changes between these cell types. Hence, Pax5 controls B cell identity and function by regulating distinct target genes in early and late B lymphopoiesis. 44 samples (16 RNA-seq, 15 ChIP-seq, 6 DHS-seq, 5 Bio-ChIP-seq, 2 CAGE-seq). All but four samples in in 2 biological replicates (8819, 8275, 8095, 8666). WT and experimental samples are provided.