Publications
Cell reportsJul 2023 |
42
(
8
),
112897
DOI:
10.1016/j.celrep.2023.112897

CEBPA phase separation links transcriptional activity and 3D chromatin hubs

Christou-Kent, Marie; Cuartero, Sergi; Garcia-Cabau, Carla; Ruehle, Julia; Naderi, Julian; Erber, Julia; Neguembor, Maria Victoria; Plana-Carmona, Marcos; Alcoverro-Bertran, Marc; De Andres-Aguayo, Luisa; Klonizakis, Antonios; Julià-Vilella, Eric; Lynch, Cian; Serrano, Manuel; Hnisz, Denes; Salvatella, Xavier; Graf, Thomas; Stik, Grégoire
Product Used
Genes
Abstract
Cell identity is orchestrated through an interplay between transcription factor (TF) action and genome architecture. The mechanisms used by TFs to shape three-dimensional (3D) genome organization remain incompletely understood. Here we present evidence that the lineage-instructive TF CEBPA drives extensive chromatin compartment switching and promotes the formation of long-range chromatin hubs during induced B cell-to-macrophage transdifferentiation. Mechanistically, we find that the intrinsically disordered region (IDR) of CEBPA undergoes in vitro phase separation (PS) dependent on aromatic residues. Both overexpressing B cells and native CEBPA-expressing cell types such as primary granulocyte-macrophage progenitors, liver cells, and trophectoderm cells reveal nuclear CEBPA foci and long-range 3D chromatin hubs at CEBPA-bound regions. In short, we show that CEBPA can undergo PS through its IDR, which may underlie in vivo foci formation and suggest a potential role of PS in regulating CEBPA function.
Product Used
Genes

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