Open AccessRNA polymerase II primes Polycomb‐repressed developmental genes throughout terminal neuronal differentiation
Author(s) -
Ferrai Carmelo,
Torlai Triglia Elena,
RisnerJaniczek Jessica R,
Rito Tiago,
Rackham Owen JL,
Santiago Inês,
Kukalev Alexander,
Nicodemi Mario,
Akalin Altuna,
Li Meng,
Ungless Mark A,
Pombo Ana
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
molecular systems biology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 8.523
H-Index - 148
ISSN - 1744-4292
DOI - 10.15252/msb.20177754
Subject(s) - psychological repression , biology , gene silencing , rna polymerase ii , polycomb group proteins , embryonic stem cell , genetics , gene , transcription factor , cellular differentiation , repressor , microbiology and biotechnology , promoter , gene expression
Polycomb repression in mouse embryonic stem cells ( ESC s) is tightly associated with promoter co‐occupancy of RNA polymerase II ( RNAPII ) which is thought to prime genes for activation during early development. However, it is unknown whether RNAPII poising is a general feature of Polycomb repression, or is lost during differentiation. Here, we map the genome‐wide occupancy of RNAPII and Polycomb from pluripotent ESC s to non‐dividing functional dopaminergic neurons. We find that poised RNAPII complexes are ubiquitously present at Polycomb‐repressed genes at all stages of neuronal differentiation. We observe both loss and acquisition of RNAPII and Polycomb at specific groups of genes reflecting their silencing or activation. Strikingly, RNAPII remains poised at transcription factor genes which are silenced in neurons through Polycomb repression, and have major roles in specifying other, non‐neuronal lineages. We conclude that RNAPII poising is intrinsically associated with Polycomb repression throughout differentiation. Our work suggests that the tight interplay between RNAPII poising and Polycomb repression not only instructs promoter state transitions, but also may enable promoter plasticity in differentiated cells.