GSE169516
BRD4 orchestrates genome folding to promote neural crest progenitor differentiation
Higher-order chromatin structure is critical for proper gene regulation, but the relationship between genome folding and cellular identity remains elusive. Here, we show that genetic deletion of the Bromodomain-containing protein 4 (BRD4) in murine neural crest cells recapitulates features of cohesinopathies. We demonstrate that BRD4 interacts with NIPBL, a positive cohesin regulator, and acute depletion of BRD4 or loss of the BRD4-NIPBL interaction reduces NIPBL-occupancy, elucidating the importance of BRD4 in stabilizing NIPBL on chromatin. Genome-wide chromatin interaction mapping and quantitative imaging studies demonstrate that BRD4-depletion results in aberrant genome folding, specifically loss of a subset of chromatin loops, weakening of TADs, and compromised loop extrusion. Finally, loss of BRD4 or the interaction with NIPBL impedes neural crest differentiation which, remarkably, is rescued by WAPL depletion, a negative cohesin regulator. Our data reveal that BRD4 choreographs genome folding, illustrating the importance of balancing cohesin activity on progenitor differentiation. Overall design: Examination of genome-wide occupancy of BRD4, NIPBL, H3K27ac and RAD21 in control and BRD4-degradation conditions (CUT&RUN). Examination of interaction frequecy in both conditions (Hi-C). Examination of gene transcription in both conditions (RNA-seq and SLAM-seq).