CUT&RUN seq of HSF4 and COIL after UV stimulation of NIH-3T3 cells
Intense ultraviolet (UV) exposure can cause phototoxic reactions, such as skin inflammation, resulting in injury. UV is believed to be the direct cause of DNA damage, but the mechanisms of transcriptional regulation within cells after DNA damage are unclear. The bioinformatic analysis of transcriptome sequencing data from UV-irradiated and non-UV-irradiated skin showed that transcription-related proteins, such as HSF4 and COIL, mediate the cellular response to UV irradiation. HSF4 and COIL could form a complex under UV irradiation, and the preference for binding target genes changed. This is due to the presence of a large number of R-loops in the cells under UV irradiation and the ability of COIL to recognize the R-loops. The regulation of target genes was altered by the HSF4-COIL complex, and the expression of inflammation and aging-related genes, such as ATG7, TFPI, and LIMS1, were enhanced. A drug screen was performed for the recognition sites of COIL and R-loop. N6-(2-hydroxyethyl)-adenosine (HEA) could competitively bind COIL and inhibit the binding of COIL to R-loop. Thus, the activation of downstream inflammation-related genes and inflammatory skin injury were inhibited. Overall design: CUT&RUN seq of HSF4 and COIL after UV stimulation of NIH-3T3 cells