Quantitative classification of chromatin dynamics reveals regulators of intestinal stem cell differentiation

Abstract

Intestinal stem cell (ISC) plasticity is thought to be regulated by broadly-permissive chromatin shared between ISCs and their progeny. Here, we utilize a Sox9EGFP reporter to examine chromatin across ISC differentiation. We find that open chromatin regions (OCRs) can be defined as broadly-permissive or dynamic in a locus-specific manner, with dynamic OCRs found primarily in loci consistent with distal enhancers. By integrating gene expression with chromatin accessibility at transcription factor (TF) motifs in context of Sox9EGFP populations, we classify broadly-permissive and dynamic chromatin relative to TF usage. These analyses identify known and potential regulators of ISC differentiation via association with dynamic changes in chromatin. Consistent with computational predictions, Id3-null mice exhibit increased numbers of cells expressing ISC-specific biomarker OLFM4. Finally, we examine the relationship between gene expression and 5-hydroxymethylcytosine (5hmC) in Sox9EGFP populations, which reveals 5hmC enrichment in absorptive lineage specific genes. Our data demonstrate that intestinal chromatin dynamics can be quantitatively defined in a locus-specific manner, identify novel potential regulators of ISC differentiation, and provide a chromatin roadmap for further dissecting cis regulation of cell fate in the intestine.

Document Details

Document Type
Pub Defense Publication
Publication Date
Jan 01, 2019
Source ID
10.1242/dev.181966

Entities

People

  • Adam D Gracz
  • Deepthi Y. Tulasi
  • Jeremy M. Morowitz
  • Jesse R Raab
  • Kortney E. Wager
  • Scott T. Magness

Organizations

  • Burroughs Wellcome Fund
  • National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases
  • United States Department of Defense
  • University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Tags

Fields of Study

  • Biology

Readers

  • Immunology and Pathology
  • Molecular Genetics
  • Solar Photovoltaics and Thermoelectric Devices.

Technology Areas

  • Biotechnology