The dynamic interactome and genomic targets of Polycomb complexes during stem-cell differentiation

Nat Struct Mol Biol. 2016 Jul;23(7):682-690. doi: 10.1038/nsmb.3248. Epub 2016 Jun 13.

Abstract

Although the core subunits of Polycomb group (PcG) complexes are well characterized, little is known about the dynamics of these protein complexes during cellular differentiation. We used quantitative interaction proteomics and genome-wide profiling to study PcG proteins in mouse embryonic stem cells (ESCs) and neural progenitor cells (NPCs). We found that the stoichiometry and genome-wide binding of PRC1 and PRC2 were highly dynamic during neural differentiation. Intriguingly, we observed a downregulation and loss of PRC2 from chromatin marked with trimethylated histone H3 K27 (H3K27me3) during differentiation, whereas PRC1 was retained at these sites. Additionally, we found PRC1 at enhancer and promoter regions independently of PRC2 binding and H3K27me3. Finally, overexpression of NPC-specific PRC1 interactors in ESCs led to increased Ring1b binding to, and decreased expression of, NPC-enriched Ring1b-target genes. In summary, our integrative analyses uncovered dynamic PcG subcomplexes and their widespread colocalization with active chromatin marks during differentiation.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cell Differentiation / genetics*
  • Cell Line
  • Chromatin / chemistry
  • Chromatin / metabolism*
  • Chromatography, Liquid
  • Chromosomes, Artificial, Bacterial
  • Gene Expression Regulation
  • Genome-Wide Association Study
  • Histones / genetics*
  • Histones / metabolism
  • Mice
  • Mouse Embryonic Stem Cells / cytology
  • Mouse Embryonic Stem Cells / metabolism*
  • Neural Stem Cells / cytology
  • Neural Stem Cells / metabolism*
  • Polycomb-Group Proteins / classification
  • Polycomb-Group Proteins / genetics*
  • Polycomb-Group Proteins / metabolism
  • Protein Interaction Mapping
  • Proteomics / methods
  • Signal Transduction
  • Tandem Mass Spectrometry

Substances

  • Chromatin
  • Histones
  • Polycomb-Group Proteins