FACT sets a barrier for cell fate reprogramming in C. elegans and human

Item Type:

Preprint

Title:

Creators Name:

Kolundzic, E. and Ofenbauer, A. and Uyar, B. and Sommermeier, A. and Seelk, S. and He, M. and Baytek, G. and Akalin, A. and Diecke, S. and Lacadie, S.A. and Tursun, B.

Abstract:

The chromatin regulator FACT (Facilitates Chromatin Transcription) is essential for ensuring stable gene expression by promoting transcription. In a genetic screen using C. elegans we identified that FACT maintains cell identities and acts as a barrier for transcription factor-mediated cell fate reprogramming. Strikingly, FACTs role as a reprogramming barrier is conserved in humans as we show that FACT depletion enhances reprogramming of fibroblasts into stem cells and neurons. Such activity of FACT is unexpected since known reprogramming barriers typically repress gene expression by silencing chromatin. In contrast, FACT is a positive regulator of gene expression suggesting an unprecedented link of cell fate maintenance with counteracting alternative cell identities. This notion is supported by ATAC-seq analysis showing that FACT depletion results in decreased but also increased chromatin accessibility for transcription factors. Our findings identify FACT as a cellular reprogramming barrier in C. elegans and in Human, revealing an evolutionarily conserved mechanism for cell fate protection.

Source:

bioRxiv

Publisher:

Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press

Article Number:

185116

Date:

6 September 2017

Official Publication:

https://doi.org/10.1101/185116

Related to:

URL	URL Type
https://edoc.mdc-berlin.de/17665/	Final version

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