Project description:Epigenetic control of gene expression occurs through discrete spatial chromosomal units called topologically associating domains (TADs), but the exact spatial requirements of most genes are unknown; this is of particular interest for genes involved in disease. We therefore applied high-resolution chromosomal conformation capture-sequencing to map the three-dimensional (3D) organization of the locus encoding the key myeloid transcription factor PU.1 in healthy monocytes and acute myeloid leukemia (AML) cells. We identified a dynamic ~75kb unit (SubTAD) as the genomic region in which spatial interactions between PU.1 gene regulatory elements occur during myeloid differentiation and are interrupted in AML. Within this SubTAD, initiating the spatial chromosomal interactions requires PU.1 auto-regulation and recruitment of the chromatin-adaptor protein LDB1 (LIM domain-binding protein 1). However, once formed, this SubTAD remains stable even when auto-regulation is impaired. Thus, our data support that PU.1 auto-regulation functions in a ‘hit-and-run’ manner, whereby it organizes chromosomal loops to create a transcriptionally active chromatin architecture.
Project description:Epigenetic control of gene expression occurs within discrete spatial chromosomal units called topologically associating domains (TADs), but the exact spatial requirements of most genes are unknown; this is of particular interest for genes involved in cancer. We therefore applied high-resolution chromosomal conformation capture-sequencing to map the three-dimensional (3D) organization of the human locus encoding the key myeloid transcription factor PU.1 in healthy monocytes and acute myeloid leukemia (AML) cells. We identified a dynamic ~75kb unit (SubTAD) as the genomic region in which spatial interactions between PU.1 gene regulatory elements occur during myeloid differentiation and are interrupted in AML. Within this SubTAD, proper initiation of the spatial chromosomal interactions requires PU.1 autoregulation and recruitment of the chromatin-adaptor protein LDB1 (LIM domain-binding protein 1). However, once these spatial interactions have occurred, LDB1 stabilizes them independently of PU.1 auto-regulation. Thus, our data support that PU.1 auto-regulates its expression in a ‘hit-and-run’ manner by initiating stable chromosomal loops that result in a transcriptionally active chromatin architecture.
Project description:The transcription factor PU.1 occupies a central role in controlling myeloid and early B cell development and its correct lineage-specific expression is critical for the differentiation choice of hematopoietic progenitors. However, little is known of how this tissue-specific pattern is established. We previously identified an upstream regulatory cis-element (URE) whose targeted deletion in mice decreases PU.1 expression and causes leukemia. We show here that the URE alone is insufficient to confer physiological PU.1 expression, but requires the cooperation with other, previously unidentified elements. Using a combination of transgenic studies, global chromatin assays and detailed molecular analyses we present evidence that Pu.1 is regulated by a novel mechanism involving cross-talk between different cis-elements together with lineage-restricted autoregulation. In this model, PU.1 regulates its expression in B cells and macrophages by differentially associating with cell-type specific transcription factors at one of its cis-regulatory elements to establish differential activity patterns at other elements. Two DNaseI hypersensitivity datasets; bone marrow derived-macrophages and Splenic CD19+IgM+ B cells were used to study PU.1 regulatory elements
Project description:The transcription factor PU.1 occupies a central role in controlling myeloid and early B cell development and its correct lineage-specific expression is critical for the differentiation choice of hematopoietic progenitors. However, little is known of how this tissue-specific pattern is established. We previously identified an upstream regulatory cis-element (URE) whose targeted deletion in mice decreases PU.1 expression and causes leukemia. We show here that the URE alone is insufficient to confer physiological PU.1 expression, but requires the cooperation with other, previously unidentified elements. Using a combination of transgenic studies, global chromatin assays and detailed molecular analyses we present evidence that Pu.1 is regulated by a novel mechanism involving cross-talk between different cis-elements together with lineage-restricted autoregulation. In this model, PU.1 regulates its expression in B cells and macrophages by differentially associating with cell-type specific transcription factors at one of its cis-regulatory elements to establish differential activity patterns at other elements.
Project description:Hox genes are essential regulators of embryonic development. They are activated in a temporal sequence following their topological order within their genomic clusters. Subsequently, states of activity are fine-tuned and maintained to translate into domains of progressively overlapping gene products. While the mechanisms underlying such temporal and spatial progressions begin to be understood, many of their aspects remain unclear. We have systematically analyzed the 3D chromatin organization of Hox clusters in vivo, during their activation using high-resolution circular chromosome conformation capture (4C-seq). Initially, Hox clusters are organized as single 3D chromatin compartments decorated with bivalent chromatin marks. Their progressive transcriptional activation is associated with a dynamic bi-modal 3D organization, whereby the genes switch one after the other, from an inactive to an active 3D compartment. These local 3D dynamics occur within a larger constitutive framework of interactions within the surrounding Topological Associated Domains, which confirms previous results that regulation of this process in primarily cluster intrinsic. The local step-wise progression in time can be stopped and memorized at various body levels and hence it may accounts for the various chromatin architectures previously described at different anterior to posterior body levels for the same embryo at a later stage. Circular Chromosome Conformation Capture (4C-seq) samples from mouse ES cells and mouse embryonic samples at different stages of development. Data based on 41 biological samples.