DNA methylation patterns expose variations in enhancer-chromatin modifications during embryonic stem cell differentiation

PLoS Genet. 2021 Apr 12;17(4):e1009498. doi: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1009498. eCollection 2021 Apr.

Abstract

In mammals, cellular identity is defined through strict regulation of chromatin modifications and DNA methylation that control gene expression. Methylation of cytosines at CpG sites in the genome is mainly associated with suppression; however, the reason for enhancer-specific methylation is not fully understood. We used sequential ChIP-bisulfite-sequencing for H3K4me1 and H3K27ac histone marks. By collecting data from the same genomic region, we identified enhancers differentially methylated between these two marks. We observed a global gain of CpG methylation primarily in H3K4me1-marked nucleosomes during mouse embryonic stem cell differentiation. This gain occurred largely in enhancer regions that regulate genes critical for differentiation. The higher levels of DNA methylation in H3K4me1- versus H3K27ac-marked enhancers, despite it being the same genomic region, indicates cellular heterogeneity of enhancer states. Analysis of single-cell RNA-seq profiles demonstrated that this heterogeneity correlates with gene expression during differentiation. Furthermore, heterogeneity of enhancer methylation correlates with transcription start site methylation. Our results provide insights into enhancer-based functional variation in complex biological systems.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cell Differentiation / genetics*
  • Chromatin / genetics*
  • DNA Methylation / genetics*
  • Enhancer Elements, Genetic / genetics*
  • Humans
  • Mice
  • Mouse Embryonic Stem Cells
  • Nucleosomes / genetics
  • Promoter Regions, Genetic / genetics
  • RNA-Seq
  • Single-Cell Analysis
  • Transcription Initiation Site

Substances

  • Chromatin
  • Nucleosomes

Grants and funding

This work was supported by the European Research Council (ERC, #715260 SC-EpiCode); the Israel Science Foundation (ISF, #1618/16); the Azriely Foundation Scholar Program for Distinguished Junior Faculty and the Israeli Center of Research Excellence (I-CORE) program, all to OR. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.