Core promoter factor TAF9B regulates neuronal gene expression

Francisco J Herrera; Teppei Yamaguchi; Henk Roelink; Robert Tjian

doi:10.7554/eLife.02559

Core promoter factor TAF9B regulates neuronal gene expression

Elife. 2014 Jul 8:3:e02559. doi: 10.7554/eLife.02559.

Authors

Francisco J Herrera¹, Teppei Yamaguchi², Henk Roelink³, Robert Tjian²

Affiliations

¹ Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, United States Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, United States CIRM Center of Excellence, Li Ka Shing Center For Biomedical and Health Sciences, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, United States fjherrera@berkeley.edu.
² Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, United States Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, United States CIRM Center of Excellence, Li Ka Shing Center For Biomedical and Health Sciences, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, United States.
³ Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, United States.

Abstract

Emerging evidence points to an unexpected diversification of core promoter recognition complexes that serve as important regulators of cell-type specific gene transcription. Here, we report that the orphan TBP-associated factor TAF9B is selectively up-regulated upon in vitro motor neuron differentiation, and is required for the transcriptional induction of specific neuronal genes, while dispensable for global gene expression in murine ES cells. TAF9B binds to both promoters and distal enhancers of neuronal genes, partially co-localizing at binding sites of OLIG2, a key activator of motor neuron differentiation. Surprisingly, in this neuronal context TAF9B becomes preferentially associated with PCAF rather than the canonical TFIID complex. Analysis of dissected spinal column from Taf9b KO mice confirmed that TAF9B also regulates neuronal gene transcription in vivo. Our findings suggest that alternative core promoter complexes may provide a key mechanism to lock in and maintain specific transcriptional programs in terminally differentiated cell types.DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.7554/eLife.02559.001.

Keywords: TBP-associated factor TAF; motor neurons; neuronal enhancers; neuronal gene expression; stem cells; transcription factors.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Animals
Cell Differentiation / genetics
Embryonic Stem Cells / metabolism
Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental*
Mice, Knockout
Motor Neurons / cytology
Motor Neurons / metabolism*
Multiprotein Complexes / metabolism
Promoter Regions, Genetic*
Protein Binding
TATA-Binding Protein Associated Factors / genetics
TATA-Binding Protein Associated Factors / metabolism*
Transcription Factor TFIID / genetics
Transcription Factor TFIID / metabolism*
p300-CBP Transcription Factors / metabolism

Substances

Multiprotein Complexes
TAF9b protein, mouse
TATA-Binding Protein Associated Factors
Transcription Factor TFIID
p300-CBP Transcription Factors
p300-CBP-associated factor

Abstract

Publication types

MeSH terms

Substances

Grants and funding