Analyses of Promoter , Enhancer, and Nucleosome Organization in Mammalian Cells by MNase-Seq

Abstract

MNase-Seq is a genome-wide procedure that allows mapping of DNA associated to nucleosomes following micrococcal nuclease digestion. It is a rapid and robust technology useful for the analysis of chromatin properties genome-wide at the resolution of mono-nucleosomes. Here, we describe how to produce high-resolution nucleosome maps of cells grown in suspension or adherent mammalian cells. After only three steps: nuclei or cell preparation, native MNase digestion and DNA purification, libraries for high-throughput sequencing can be prepared. Genome-wide nucleosome maps allow analyzing chromatin opening at promoters or enhancers, nucleosome displacement, or labile nucleosome occupancy depending on the digestion condition used. As presented, MNase-Seq is a versatile tool for investigating chromatin dynamics, regulation, and to define open chromatin regions of regulatory elements in mammalian genomes.

Keywords: Chromatin; Enhancer; High-throughput sequencing; MNase-Seq; Nucleosome; Promoter.