Accurate Identification of Active Transcriptional Regulatory Elements from Global Run-On and Sequencing Data

2014 ◽  
Author(s):  
Charles G Danko ◽  
Stephanie L Hyland ◽  
Leighton J Core ◽  
Andre L Martins ◽  
Colin T Waters ◽  
...  

Identification of the genomic regions that regulate transcription remains an important open problem. We have recently shown that global run-on and sequencing (GRO-seq) with enrichment for 5′-capped RNAs reveals patterns of divergent transcription that accurately mark active transcriptional regulatory elements (TREs), including enhancers and promoters. Here, we demonstrate that active TREs can be identified with comparable accuracy by applying sensitive machine-learning methods to standard GRO-seq and PRO-seq data, allowing TREs to be assayed together with transcription levels, elongation rates, and other transcriptional features, in a single experiment. Our method, called discriminative Regulatory Element detection from GRO-seq (dREG), summarizes GRO-seq read counts at multiple scales and uses support vector regression to predict active TREs. The predicted TREs are strongly enriched for marks associated with functional elements, including H3K27ac, transcription factor binding sites, eQTLs, and GWAS-associated SNPs. Using dREG, we survey TREs in eight cell types and provide new insights into global patterns of TRE assembly and function.

1992 ◽  
Vol 286 (1) ◽  
pp. 179-185 ◽  
Author(s):  
C P Simkevich ◽  
J P Thompson ◽  
H Poppleton ◽  
R Raghow

The transcriptional activity of plasmid pCOL-KT, in which human pro alpha 1 (I) collagen gene upstream sequences up to -804 and most of the first intron (+474 to +1440) drive expression of the chloramphenicol acetyltransferase (CAT) gene [Thompson, Simkevich, Holness, Kang & Raghow (1991) J. Biol. Chem. 266, 2549-2556], was tested in a number of mesenchymal and non-mesenchymal cells. We observed that pCOL-KT was readily expressed in fibroblasts of human (IMR-90 and HFL-1), murine (NIH 3T3) and avian (SL-29) origin and in a human rhabdomyosarcoma cell line (A204), but failed to be expressed in human erythroleukaemia (K562) and rat pheochromocytoma (PC12) cells, indicating that the regulatory elements required for appropriate tissue-specific expression of the human pro alpha 1 (I) collagen gene were present in pCOL-KT. To delineate the nature of cis-acting sequences which determine the tissue specificity of pro alpha 1 (I) collagen gene expression, functional consequences of deletions in the promoter and first intron of pCOL-KT were tested in various cell types by transient expression assays. Cis elements in the promoter-proximal and intronic sequences displayed either a positive or a negative influence depending on the cell type. Thus deletion of fragments using EcoRV (nt -625 to -442 deleted), XbaI (-804 to -331) or SstII (+670 to +1440) resulted in 2-10-fold decreased expression in A204 and HFL-1 cells. The negative influences of deletions in the promoter-proximal sequences was apparently considerably relieved by deleting sequences in the first intron, and the constructs containing the EcoRV/SstII or XbaI/SstII double deletions were expressed to a much greater extent than either of the single deletion constructs. In contrast, the XbaI* deletion (nt -804 to -609), either alone or in combination with the intronic deletion, resulted in very high expression in all cells regardless of their collagen phenotype; the XbaI*/(-SstII) construct, which contained the intronic SstII fragment (+670 to +1440) in the reverse orientation, was not expressed in either mesenchymal or nonmesenchymal cells. Based on these results, we conclude that orientation-dependent interactions between negatively acting 5′-upstream sequences and the first intron determine the mesenchymal cell specificity of human pro alpha 1 (I) collagen gene transcription.


1983 ◽  
Vol 3 (10) ◽  
pp. 1834-1845
Author(s):  
G M Gilmartin ◽  
J T Parsons

Transcriptional regulatory elements within the Rous sarcoma virus long terminal repeat were examined by the construction of a series of deletions and small insertions within the U3 region of the long terminal repeat. The analysis of these mutations in chicken embryo cells and COS cells permitted the identification of important transcriptional regulatory elements. Sequences within the region 31 to 18 base pairs upstream of the RNA cap site (-31 to -18), encompassing a TATA box-like sequence, function in the selection of the correct site of transcription initiation and, in addition, augment the efficiency of transcription. These sequences are essential for virus replication. Sequences within the region -79 to -59, overlapping a CAAT box-like sequence, are not required for virus replication and have no obvious effect on viral RNA transcription in the presence of an intact TATA box. However, in mutants lacking a functional TATA sequence, mutations in this region serve to decrease the efficiency of correct transcriptional initiation events.


1991 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 641-654
Author(s):  
C Hinkley ◽  
M Perry

Xenopus oocytes, arrested in G2 before the first meiotic division, accumulate histone mRNA and protein in the absence of chromosomal DNA replication and therefore represent an attractive biological system in which to examine histone gene expression uncoupled from the cell cycle. Previous studies have shown that sequences necessary for maximal levels of transcription in oocytes are present within 200 bp at the 5' end of the transcription initiation site for genes encoding each of the five major Xenopus histone classes. We have defined by site-directed mutagenesis individual regulatory sequences and characterized DNA-binding proteins required for histone H2B gene transcription in injected oocytes. The Xenopus H2B gene has a relatively simple promoter containing several transcriptional regulatory elements, including TFIID, CBP, and ATF/CREB binding sites, required for maximal transcription. A sequence (CTTTACAT) in the H2B promoter resembling the conserved octamer motif (ATTTGCAT), the target for cell-cycle regulation of a human H2B gene, is not required for transcription in oocytes. Nonetheless, substitution of a consensus octamer motif for the variant octamer element activates H2B transcription. Oocyte factors, presumably including the ubiquitous Oct-1 factor, specifically bind to the consensus octamer motif but not to the variant sequence. Our results demonstrate that a transcriptional regulatory element involved in lymphoid-specific expression of immunoglobulin genes and in S-phase-specific activation of mammalian H2B histone genes can activate transcription in nondividing amphibian oocytes.


2021 ◽  
Vol 7 (27) ◽  
pp. eabf5733
Author(s):  
Rui Lopes ◽  
Kathleen Sprouffske ◽  
Caibin Sheng ◽  
Esther C. H. Uijttewaal ◽  
Adriana Emma Wesdorp ◽  
...  

Millions of putative transcriptional regulatory elements (TREs) have been cataloged in the human genome, yet their functional relevance in specific pathophysiological settings remains to be determined. This is critical to understand how oncogenic transcription factors (TFs) engage specific TREs to impose transcriptional programs underlying malignant phenotypes. Here, we combine cutting edge CRISPR screens and epigenomic profiling to functionally survey ≈15,000 TREs engaged by estrogen receptor (ER). We show that ER exerts its oncogenic role in breast cancer by engaging TREs enriched in GATA3, TFAP2C, and H3K27Ac signal. These TREs control critical downstream TFs, among which TFAP2C plays an essential role in ER-driven cell proliferation. Together, our work reveals novel insights into a critical oncogenic transcription program and provides a framework to map regulatory networks, enabling to dissect the function of the noncoding genome of cancer cells.


mSystems ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 6 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Soonkyu Hwang ◽  
Namil Lee ◽  
Donghui Choe ◽  
Yongjae Lee ◽  
Woori Kim ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT Identification of transcriptional regulatory elements in the GC-rich Streptomyces genome is essential for the production of novel biochemicals from secondary metabolite biosynthetic gene clusters (smBGCs). Despite many efforts to understand the regulation of transcription initiation in smBGCs, information on the regulation of transcription termination and posttranscriptional processing remains scarce. In this study, we identified the transcriptional regulatory elements in β-lactam antibiotic-producing Streptomyces clavuligerus ATCC 27064 by determining a total of 1,427 transcript 3′-end positions (TEPs) using the term-seq method. Termination of transcription was governed by three classes of TEPs, of which each displayed unique sequence features. The data integration with transcription start sites and transcriptome data generated 1,648 transcription units (TUs) and 610 transcription unit clusters (TUCs). TU architecture showed that the transcript abundance in TU isoforms of a TUC was potentially affected by the sequence context of their TEPs, suggesting that the regulatory elements of TEPs could control the transcription level in additional layers. We also identified TU features of a xenobiotic response element (XRE) family regulator and DUF397 domain-containing protein, particularly showing the abundance of bidirectional TEPs. Finally, we found that 189 noncoding TUs contained potential cis- and trans-regulatory elements that played a major role in regulating the 5′ and 3′ UTR. These findings highlight the role of transcriptional regulatory elements in transcription termination and posttranscriptional processing in Streptomyces sp. IMPORTANCE Streptomyces sp. is a great source of bioactive secondary metabolites, including antibiotics, antifungal agents, antiparasitic agents, immunosuppressant compounds, and other drugs. Secondary metabolites are synthesized via multistep conversions of the precursor molecules from primary metabolism, governed by multicomplex enzymes from secondary metabolite biosynthetic gene clusters. As their production is closely related with the growth phase and dynamic cellular status in response to various intra- and extracellular signals, complex regulatory systems tightly control the gene expressions related to secondary metabolism. In this study, we determined genome-wide transcript 3′-end positions and transcription units in the β-lactam antibiotic producer Streptomyces clavuligerus ATCC 27064 to elucidate the transcriptional regulatory elements in transcription termination and posttranscriptional processing by integration of multiomics data. These unique features, such as transcript 3′-end sequence, potential riboregulators, and potential 3′-untranslated region (UTR) cis-regulatory elements, can be potentially used to design engineering tools that can regulate the transcript abundance of genes for enhancing secondary metabolite production.


Development ◽  
1989 ◽  
Vol 107 (2) ◽  
pp. 189-200 ◽  
Author(s):  
U. Grossniklaus ◽  
H.J. Bellen ◽  
C. Wilson ◽  
W.J. Gehring

We have stained the ovaries of nearly 600 different Drosophila strains carrying single copies of a P-element enhancer detector. This transposon detects neighbouring genomic transcriptional regulatory sequences by means of a beta-galactosidase reporter gene. Numerous strains are stained in specific cells and at specific stages of oogenesis and provide useful ovarian markers for cell types that in some cases have not previously been recognized by morphological criteria. Since recent data have suggested that a substantial number of the regulatory elements detected by enhancer detection control neighbouring genes, we discuss the implications of our results concerning ovarian gene expression patterns in Drosophila. We have also identified a small number of insertion-linked recessive mutants that are sterile or lead to ovarian defects. We observe a strong correlation with specific germ line staining patterns in these strains, suggesting that certain patterns are more likely to be associated with female sterile genes than others. On the basis of our results, we suggest new strategies, which are not primarily based on the generation of mutants, to screen for and isolated female sterile genes.


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