GSE63515
Widespread rearrangement of 3D chromatin organization underlies Polycomb-mediated stress-induced silencing [Hi-C]
Chromosomes of metazoan organisms are partitioned in the interphase nucleus into discrete topologically associating domains (TADs). Borders between TADs are preferentially formed in regions containing high density of active genes and clusters of architectural protein binding sites. Transcription of most genes is turned off during the heat shock response in Drosophila. Here we show that temperature stress induces relocalization of architectural proteins from TAD borders to inside TADs, and this is accompanied by a dramatic rearrangement in the 3D organization of the nucleus. TAD border strength declines, allowing for an increase in long-distance inter-TAD interactions. Similar but quantitatively weaker effects are observed upon inhibition of transcription or depletion of individual architectural proteins. New heat shock-induced inter-TAD interactions result in increased contacts among enhancers and promoters of silenced genes, which recruit Pc and form Pc bodies at the nucleolus. These results suggest that the TAD organization of metazoan genomes is plastic and can be quickly reconfigured to allow new interactions between distant sequences. Overall design: Analysis of 3D chromatin organization using Hi-C in Drosophila Kc167 cells. Cells were grown at 25 C and heat shocked for 20 min at 36.5 C. Cells were also treated with flavopiridol or triptolide to inhibit transcription elongation or initiation, respectively. Cells were depeleted of Cap-H2 or Rad21 using RNAi. Finally, cells depleted of RAd21 were subjected to heat shock at 36.5 C for 20 min.