The histone variant macroH2A1.1 regulates RNA Polymerase II paused genes within defined chromatin interaction landscapes.

Fiche publication


Date publication

avril 2022

Journal

Journal of cell science

Auteurs

Membres identifiés du Cancéropôle Est :
Dr SEXTON Thomas


Tous les auteurs :
Recoules L, Heurteau A, Raynal F, Karasu N, Moutahir F, Bejjani F, Jariel-Encontre I, Cuvier O, Sexton T, Lavigne AC, Bystricky K

Résumé

The histone variant macroH2A1.1 plays a role in cancer development and metastasis. To determine the underlying molecular mechanisms, we mapped the genome-wide localization of endogenous macroH2A1.1 in the human breast cancer cell line MDA-MB 231. We demonstrate that macroH2A1.1 specifically binds to active promoters and enhancers in addition to facultative heterochromatin. Selective knock-down of macroH2A1.1 deregulates expression of hundreds of highly active genes. Depending on the chromatin landscape, macroH2A1.1 acts through two distinct molecular mechanisms. The first mitigates excessive transcription by binding over domains including the promoter and the gene body. The second stimulates expression of RNA Polymerase II (Pol II) paused genes, including genes regulating mammary tumor cell migration. In contrast to the first one, macroH2A1.1 specifically associates with the TSS of Pol II paused genes. These processes occur in a predefined local 3D genome landscape but do not require rewiring of enhancer-promoter contacts. We thus propose that macroH2A1.1 serves as a transcriptional modulator with a potential role in assisting the conversion of promoter-locked into a productive and elongating Pol II.

Mots clés

Breast cancer, Cellular migration, Chromatin structure, Gene expression, Histone variants, RNA Polymerase II paused genes

Référence

J Cell Sci. 2022 Apr 1;: