University of Massachusetts Medical School Faculty Publications
Title
Genomic occupancy of HLH, AP1 and Runx2 motifs within a nuclease sensitive site of the Runx2 gene
UMMS Affiliation
Department of Cell and Developmental Biology
Publication Date
2013-2
Document Type
Article
Subjects
Animals; Cell Line; Chromatin; Core Binding Factor Alpha 1 Subunit; Deoxyribonuclease I; Gene Expression Regulation; Helix-Loop-Helix Motifs; Histones; Mesoderm; Mice; Osteoblasts; Point Mutation; Promoter Regions, Genetic; Protein Interaction Domains and Motifs; Transcription Factor AP-1
Disciplines
Cell and Developmental Biology | Genetics and Genomics | Molecular Genetics
Abstract
Epigenetic mechanisms mediating expression of the Runt-related transcription factor Runx2 are critical for controlling its osteogenic activity during skeletal development. Here, we characterized bona fide regulatory elements within 120 kbp of the endogenous bone-related Runx2 promoter (P1) in osteoblasts by genomic DNase I footprinting and chromatin immuno-precipitations (ChIPs). We identified a ~10 kbp genomic domain spanning the P1 promoter that interacts with acetylated histones H3 and H4 reflecting an open chromatin conformation in MC3T3 osteoblasts. This large chromatin domain contains a single major DNaseI hypersensitive (DHS) region that defines a 0.4 kbp "basal core" promoter. This region encompasses two endogenous genomic protein/DNA interaction sites (i.e., footprints at Activating Protein 1 [AP1], E-box and Runx motifs). Helix-Loop-Helix (HLH)/E-box occupancy and presence of the DHS region persists in several mesenchymal cell types, but AP1 site occupancy occurs only during S phase when Runx2 expression is minimal. Point-mutation of the HLH/E box dramatically reduces basal promoter activity. Our results indicate that the Runx2 P1 promoter utilizes two stable principal protein/DNA interaction domains associated with AP1 and HLH factors. These sites function together with dynamic and developmentally responsive sites in a major DHS region to support epigenetic control of bone-specific transcription when osteoblasts transition into a quiescent or differentiated state.
DOI of Published Version
10.1002/jcp.22109
Source
J Cell Physiol. 2013 Feb;228(2):313-21. doi: 10.1002/jcp.22109. Link to article on publisher's site
Related Resources
Journal/Book/Conference Title
Journal of cellular physiology
PubMed ID
22886425
Repository Citation
Hovhannisyan, Hayk; Zhang, Ying; Hassan, Mohammad Q.; Wu, Hai; Glackin, Carlotta; Lian, Jane B.; Stein, Janet L.; Montecino, Martin A.; Stein, Gary S.; and Van Wijnen, Andre J., "Genomic occupancy of HLH, AP1 and Runx2 motifs within a nuclease sensitive site of the Runx2 gene" (2013). University of Massachusetts Medical School Faculty Publications. 193.
https://escholarship.umassmed.edu/faculty_pubs/193