Summary The Drosophila MSL complex associates with active genes specifically on the male X chromosome to acetylate histone H4 at lysine 16, and increase expression approximately two-fold. To date, no DNA sequence has been discovered to explain the specificity of MSL binding. We hypothesized that sequence-specific targeting occurs at “chromatin entry sites”, but the majority of sites are sequence-independent. Here we characterize 150 potential entry sites by ChIP-chip and ChIP-seq and discover a GA-rich MSL recognition element (MRE). The motif is only slightly enriched on the X chromosome (~2 fold), but this is doubled when considering its preferential location within or 3’ to active genes (>4 fold enrichment). When inserted on an autosome, a newly identified site can direct local MSL spreading to flanking active genes. These results provide strong evidence for both sequence-dependent and -independent steps in MSL targeting of dosage compensation to the male X chromosome.
Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) have important regulatory roles and can function at the level of chromatin. To determine where lncRNAs bind to chromatin, we developed capture hybridization analysis of RNA targets (CHART), a hybridization-based technique that specifically enriches endogenous RNAs along with their targets from reversibly cross-linked chromatin extracts. CHART was used to enrich the DNA and protein targets of endogenous lncRNAs from flies and humans. This analysis was extended to genomewide mapping of roX2, a well-studied ncRNA involved in dosage compensation in Drosophila. CHART revealed that roX2 binds at specific genomic sites that coincide with the binding sites of proteins from the male-specific lethal complex that affects dosage compensation. These results reveal the genomic targets of roX2 and demonstrate how CHART can be used to study RNAs in a manner analogous to chromatin immunoprecipitation for proteins.chromatin-associated RNAs | chromatin-modifying complexes | RNase H mapping G enerating cellular diversity from genetic information requires the regulatory interplay between cis-acting elements encoded at specific loci in chromatin and trans-acting factors that bind them (1). Although the importance of trans-acting proteins (e.g., transcription factors) has long been appreciated, there is growing interest in the role of long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) (2) as factors that can regulate specific chromatin loci. This interest is enhanced by the recent discovery that the majority of eukaryotic genomes are transcribed (3) and that many of the resulting transcripts are developmentally regulated (4) but do not encode proteins. Although the functional scope of these RNAs remains unknown (5-7), several lncRNAs play important regulatory roles at the level of chromatin (8). Determining where these ncRNAs bind on the genome is central to determining their function.Examples of lncRNAs that influence chromatin include the roX ncRNAs in flies and Xist in mammals, both having wellestablished roles in dosage compensation (8, 9); Kcnq1ot1 and Air ncRNAs, which are expressed from genomically imprinted loci and affect chromatin silencing (10-13); Evf2, HSR1, and other ncRNAs that positively regulate transcription (14-16); lncRNAs that target the dihydrofolate reductase promoter and the rDNA promoters through triplex formation (17, 18); and the human HOTAIR and HOTTIP lncRNAs, which regulate polycomb-repressed and trithorax-activated chromatin, respectively (19,20). Dysregulation of several of these lncRNAs has been associated with disease (21, 22). Our understanding of the biochemical roles of these RNAs comes largely from their interactions with specific proteins-insights gained from classical biochemical techniques developed for studying translation and RNA-processing complexes and also more recent technological advances using RNA immunoprecipitation (23) and cross-linking and immunoprecipitation (24)(25)(26). These experiments suggest that several lncRNAs specifically interact with chromatin-m odifying machine...
T cell recognition of specific antigens mediates protection from pathogens and controls neoplasias, but can also cause autoimmunity. Our knowledge of T cell antigens and their implications for human health is limited by the technical limitations of T cell profiling technologies. Here, we present T-Scan, a high-throughput platform for identification of antigens productively recognized by T cells. T-Scan uses lentiviral delivery of antigen libraries into cells for endogenous processing and presentation on major histocompatibility complex (MHC) molecules. Target cells functionally recognized by T cells are isolated using a reporter for granzyme B activity, and the antigens mediating recognition are identified by next-generation sequencing. We show T-Scan correctly identifies cognate antigens of T cell receptors (TCRs) from viral and human genome-wide libraries. We apply T-Scan to discover new viral antigens, perform high-resolution mapping of TCR specificity, and characterize the reactivity of a tumor-derived TCR. T-Scan is a powerful approach for studying T cell responses.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.
hi@scite.ai
10624 S. Eastern Ave., Ste. A-614
Henderson, NV 89052, USA
Copyright © 2024 scite LLC. All rights reserved.
Made with 💙 for researchers
Part of the Research Solutions Family.