title: Macrohistone variants preserve cell identity by preventing the gain of H3K4me2 during reprogramming to pluripotency.
abstract: Transcription-factor-induced reprogramming of somatic cells to pluripotency is a very inefficient process, probably due to the existence of important epigenetic barriers that are imposed during differentiation and that contribute to preserving cell identity. In an effort to decipher the molecular nature of these barriers, we followed a genome-wide approach, in which we identified macrohistone variants (macroH2A) as highly expressed in human somatic cells but downregulated after reprogramming to pluripotency, as well as strongly induced during differentiation. Knockdown of macrohistone variants in human keratinocytes increased the efficiency of reprogramming to pluripotency, whereas overexpression had opposite effects. Genome-wide occupancy profiles show that in human keratinocytes, macroH2A.1 preferentially occupies genes that are expressed at low levels and are marked with H3K27me3, including pluripotency-related genes and bivalent developmental regulators. The presence of macroH2A.1 at these genes prevents the regain of H3K4me2 during reprogramming, imposing an additional layer of repression that preserves cell identity.
authors.affiliation: Center for Regenerative Medicine in Barcelona, Barcelona 08003, Spain.
authors.forename: María J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Barrero
authors.forename: Borja
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Sese
authors.forename: Bernd
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Kuebler
authors.forename: Josipa
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bilic
authors.forename: Stephanie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Boue
authors.forename: Mercè
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Martí
authors.forename: Juan Carlos
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Izpisua Belmonte
mesh_terms: D002454:Cell Differentiation; D002460:Cell Line; D065150:Cellular Reprogramming; D053595:Embryonic Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D006657:Histones / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D015603:Keratinocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D009154:Mutation; D039904:Pluripotent Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D034622:RNA Interference; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D006657:Histones; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering