GSE158288
Phase separation of Epstein-Barr virus EBNA2 reorganizes chromatin topology for epigenetic regulation
Epstein-Barr virus nuclear antigen 2 (EBNA2) is a transactivator of viral and cellular gene expression, which plays a critical role in the Epstein-Barr virus-associated diseases. It was reported that EBNA2 regulates gene expression by manipulating epigenetics, but the details are unclear. Recent studies showed that liquid-liquid phase separation plays an essential role in epigenetic and transcriptional regulation. Through the recently developed ATAC-see technology, we observed that EBNA2 reorganized chromatin topology to form accessible chromatin domains (ACDs) of the host genome by phase separation. The N-terminal region of EBNA2, which is necessary for phase separation, is sufficient to induce ACDs. The C-terminal domain of EBNA2 promotes the acetylation of accessible chromatin regions by recruiting histone acetylase p300 to ACDs. According to these observations, we proposed a model of EBNA2 reorganizing chromatin topology for its acetylation through phase separation to explain the mechanism of EBNA2 hijacking the host genome by controlling its epigenetics. Our findings help to understand the molecular mechanism of the EBV-associated diseases and develop therapeutics for these diseases. Overall design: Examination of 2 different histone modifications in Human  nasopharyngeal carcinoma cells.