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A genome-wide analysis of open chromatin in human epididymis epithelial cells reveals candidate regulatory elements for genes coordinating epididymal function.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Bischof, JM; Gillen, AE; Song, L; Gosalia, N; London, D; Furey, TS; Crawford, GE; Harris, A
Published in: Biol Reprod
October 2013

The epithelium lining the epididymis has a pivotal role in ensuring a luminal environment that can support normal sperm maturation. Many of the individual genes that encode proteins involved in establishing the epididymal luminal fluid are well characterized. They include ion channels, ion exchangers, transporters, and solute carriers. However, the molecular mechanisms that coordinate expression of these genes and modulate their activities in response to biological stimuli are less well understood. To identify cis-regulatory elements for genes expressed in human epididymis epithelial cells, we generated genome-wide maps of open chromatin by DNase-seq. This analysis identified 33,542 epididymis-selective DNase I hypersensitive sites (DHS), which were not evident in five cell types of different lineages. Identification of genes with epididymis-selective DHS at their promoters revealed gene pathways that are active in immature epididymis epithelial cells. These include processes correlating with epithelial function and also others with specific roles in the epididymis, including retinol metabolism and ascorbate and aldarate metabolism. Peaks of epididymis-selective chromatin were seen in the androgen receptor gene and the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) gene, which has a critical role in regulating ion transport across the epididymis epithelium. In silico prediction of transcription factor binding sites that were overrepresented in epididymis-selective DHS identified epithelial transcription factors, including ELF5 and ELF3, the androgen receptor, Pax2, and Sox9, as components of epididymis transcriptional networks. Active genes, which are targets of each transcription factor, reveal important biological processes in the epididymis epithelium.

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Published In

Biol Reprod

DOI

EISSN

1529-7268

Publication Date

October 2013

Volume

89

Issue

4

Start / End Page

104

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Spermatogenesis
  • Promoter Regions, Genetic
  • Organ Specificity
  • Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis
  • Obstetrics & Reproductive Medicine
  • Nucleosomes
  • Male
  • Infertility, Male
  • Humans
  • Genome-Wide Association Study
 

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Bischof, J. M., Gillen, A. E., Song, L., Gosalia, N., London, D., Furey, T. S., … Harris, A. (2013). A genome-wide analysis of open chromatin in human epididymis epithelial cells reveals candidate regulatory elements for genes coordinating epididymal function. Biol Reprod, 89(4), 104. https://doi.org/10.1095/biolreprod.113.110403
Bischof, Jared M., Austin E. Gillen, Lingyun Song, Nehal Gosalia, Darin London, Terrence S. Furey, Gregory E. Crawford, and Ann Harris. “A genome-wide analysis of open chromatin in human epididymis epithelial cells reveals candidate regulatory elements for genes coordinating epididymal function.Biol Reprod 89, no. 4 (October 2013): 104. https://doi.org/10.1095/biolreprod.113.110403.
Bischof, Jared M., et al. “A genome-wide analysis of open chromatin in human epididymis epithelial cells reveals candidate regulatory elements for genes coordinating epididymal function.Biol Reprod, vol. 89, no. 4, Oct. 2013, p. 104. Pubmed, doi:10.1095/biolreprod.113.110403.
Bischof JM, Gillen AE, Song L, Gosalia N, London D, Furey TS, Crawford GE, Harris A. A genome-wide analysis of open chromatin in human epididymis epithelial cells reveals candidate regulatory elements for genes coordinating epididymal function. Biol Reprod. 2013 Oct;89(4):104.
Journal cover image

Published In

Biol Reprod

DOI

EISSN

1529-7268

Publication Date

October 2013

Volume

89

Issue

4

Start / End Page

104

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Spermatogenesis
  • Promoter Regions, Genetic
  • Organ Specificity
  • Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis
  • Obstetrics & Reproductive Medicine
  • Nucleosomes
  • Male
  • Infertility, Male
  • Humans
  • Genome-Wide Association Study