DynaTag for efficient mapping of transcription factors in low-input samples and at single-cell resolution

Nat Commun. 2025 Jul 28;16(1):6585. doi: 10.1038/s41467-025-61797-9.

Abstract

Systematic discovery of transcription factor (TF) landscapes in low-input samples and at single cell level is a major challenge in the fields of molecular biology, genetics, and epigenetics. Here, we present cleavage under Dynamic targets and Tagmentation (DynaTag), enabling robust mapping of TF-DNA interactions using a physiological salt solution during sample preparation. DynaTag uncovers occupancy alterations for 15 TFs in stem cell and cancer tissue models. We highlight changes in TF-DNA binding for NANOG, MYC, and OCT4, during stem-cell differentiation, at both bulk and single-cell resolutions. DynaTag surpasses CUT&RUN and ChIP-seq in signal-to-background ratio and resolution. Furthermore, using tumours of a small cell lung cancer model derived from a single female donor, DynaTag reveals increased chromatin occupancy of FOXA1, MYC, and the mutant p53 R248Q at enriched gene pathways (e.g. epithelial-mesenchymal transition), following chemotherapy treatment. Collectively, we believe that DynaTag represents a significant technological advancement, facilitating precise characterization of TF landscapes across diverse biological systems and complex models.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cell Differentiation
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Chromatin / metabolism
  • DNA / metabolism
  • Female
  • Hepatocyte Nuclear Factor 3-alpha / genetics
  • Hepatocyte Nuclear Factor 3-alpha / metabolism
  • Humans
  • Nanog Homeobox Protein / genetics
  • Nanog Homeobox Protein / metabolism
  • Octamer Transcription Factor-3 / genetics
  • Octamer Transcription Factor-3 / metabolism
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-myc / genetics
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-myc / metabolism
  • Single-Cell Analysis* / methods
  • Transcription Factors* / genetics
  • Transcription Factors* / metabolism
  • Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 / genetics
  • Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 / metabolism

Substances

  • Transcription Factors
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-myc
  • Octamer Transcription Factor-3
  • Hepatocyte Nuclear Factor 3-alpha
  • Chromatin
  • FOXA1 protein, human
  • Nanog Homeobox Protein
  • DNA
  • Tumor Suppressor Protein p53
  • POU5F1 protein, human