Genetic and epigenetic determinants of neurogenesis and myogenesis

Dev Cell. 2012 Apr 17;22(4):721-35. doi: 10.1016/j.devcel.2012.01.015. Epub 2012 Mar 22.

Abstract

The regulatory networks of differentiation programs have been partly characterized; however, the molecular mechanisms of lineage-specific gene regulation by highly similar transcription factors remain largely unknown. Here we compare the genome-wide binding and transcription profiles of NEUROD2-mediated neurogenesis with MYOD-mediated myogenesis. We demonstrate that NEUROD2 and MYOD bind a shared CAGCTG E box motif and E box motifs specific for each factor: CAGGTG for MYOD and CAGATG for NEUROD2. Binding at factor-specific motifs is associated with gene transcription, whereas binding at shared sites is associated with regional epigenetic modifications but is not as strongly associated with gene transcription. Binding is largely constrained to E boxes preset in an accessible chromatin context that determines the set of target genes activated in each cell type. These findings demonstrate that the differentiation program is genetically determined by E box sequence, whereas cell lineage epigenetically determines the availability of E boxes for each differentiation program.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Acetylation
  • Animals
  • Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Transcription Factors / genetics*
  • Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Transcription Factors / metabolism*
  • Binding Sites
  • Biomarkers / metabolism
  • Cell Differentiation
  • Cell Lineage
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Chromatin / genetics
  • Chromatin Immunoprecipitation
  • E-Box Elements
  • Electrophoretic Mobility Shift Assay
  • Embryo, Mammalian / cytology
  • Embryo, Mammalian / metabolism
  • Epigenomics*
  • Fibroblasts / cytology
  • Fibroblasts / metabolism
  • Gene Expression Profiling
  • Gene Expression Regulation*
  • Histones / metabolism
  • Mice
  • Muscle Development / physiology*
  • MyoD Protein / genetics*
  • MyoD Protein / metabolism*
  • Neurogenesis / physiology*
  • Neuropeptides / genetics*
  • Neuropeptides / metabolism*
  • Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis
  • Promoter Regions, Genetic / genetics
  • Trans-Activators
  • Transcription, Genetic
  • Transcriptional Activation

Substances

  • Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Transcription Factors
  • Biomarkers
  • Chromatin
  • Histones
  • MyoD Protein
  • MyoD1 myogenic differentiation protein
  • Neurod2 protein, mouse
  • Neuropeptides
  • Trans-Activators

Associated data

  • GEO/GSE34906
  • GEO/GSE34907
  • GEO/GSE34908