JMJD2 regulates enhancer-promoter interactions via biomolecular condensate formation

Nat Genet. 2026 Mar;58(3):593-606. doi: 10.1038/s41588-025-02415-8. Epub 2025 Dec 16.

Abstract

Enhancer-promoter (E-P) interactions regulate transcription during cell fate determination. However, the regulatory mechanisms underlying E-P interactions have remained elusive. Here we present a chromatin-interaction-based proteomic approach, LoopID, to profile proteins (termed the looposome) at certain E-P anchors. We find that histone demethylase JMJD2, a key looposome component, can regulate E-P interactions and the looposome in a catalytic-independent manner through formation of biomolecular condensates. Furthermore, we introduce a system to engineer E-P interactions by assembling JMJD2 condensates at certain genomic loci, enabling construction of cell-type-specific E-P interactions to promote cellular reprogramming into pluripotent or two-cell-like cells. Our findings reveal a noncanonical function of a histone demethylase in regulation of chromatin organization and provide a strategy to regulate cell fate transitions through E-P interactions.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Chromatin / genetics
  • Chromatin / metabolism
  • Enhancer Elements, Genetic* / genetics
  • Histones / metabolism
  • Humans
  • Jumonji Domain-Containing Histone Demethylases* / genetics
  • Jumonji Domain-Containing Histone Demethylases* / metabolism
  • Mice
  • Promoter Regions, Genetic* / genetics
  • Proteomics / methods

Substances

  • Jumonji Domain-Containing Histone Demethylases
  • Chromatin
  • Histones