Differentiation-specific histone modifications reveal dynamic chromatin interactions and alternative partners for the intestinal transcription factor CDX2

INSTRUCTIONS: Please enter one of the following Topic Classifications in the section below: Bioinformatics & Computational Biology Genes & Environment Genetic & Molecular Epidemiology Medical Genomics Molecular Genetics Proteomics Statistical Genetics, Genomics, and Omics Cell differentiation requires remodeling of tissue-specific gene loci and activities of key transcriptional regulators, which are recognized for their dominant control over cellular programs.

Using epigenomic methods, we characterized enhancer elements specifically modified in differentiating intestinal epithelial cells and found enrichment of transcription factor-binding motifs corresponding to CDX2, a critical regulator of the intestine. Directed investigation revealed surprising lability in CDX2 occupancy of the genome, with redistribution from hundreds of sites occupied only in proliferating cells to thousands of new sites in differentiated cells.