Myc and max genome-wide binding sites analysis links the Myc regulatory network with the polycomb and the core pluripotency networks in mouse embryonic stem cells

PLoS One. 2014 Feb 21;9(2):e88933. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0088933. eCollection 2014.

Abstract

Myc is a master transcription factor that has been demonstrated to be required for embryonic stem cell (ESC) pluripotency, self-renewal, and inhibition of differentiation. Although recent works have identified several Myc-targets in ESCs, the list of Myc binding sites is largely incomplete due to the low sensitivity and specificity of the antibodies available. To systematically identify Myc binding sites in mouse ESCs, we used a stringent streptavidin-based genome-wide chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP-Seq) approach with biotin-tagged Myc (Bio-Myc) as well as a ChIP-Seq of the Myc binding partner Max. This analysis identified 4325 Myc binding sites, of which 2885 were newly identified. The identified sites overlap with more than 85% of the Max binding sites and are enriched for H3K4me3-positive promoters and active enhancers. Remarkably, this analysis unveils that Myc/Max regulates chromatin modifiers and transcriptional regulators involved in stem cell self-renewal linking the Myc-centered network with the Polycomb and the Core networks. These results provide insights into the contribution of Myc and Max in maintaining stem cell self-renewal and keeping these cells in an undifferentiated state.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Leucine Zipper Transcription Factors / genetics
  • Binding Sites / genetics*
  • Chromatin Immunoprecipitation / methods
  • Computational Biology
  • Embryonic Stem Cells / metabolism*
  • Gene Regulatory Networks / genetics*
  • Genomics / methods
  • Immunoprecipitation
  • Mice
  • Pluripotent Stem Cells / metabolism*
  • Polycomb-Group Proteins / genetics
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-myc / genetics*
  • Repressor Proteins / genetics
  • Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • Sequence Analysis, DNA / methods

Substances

  • Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Leucine Zipper Transcription Factors
  • Mnt protein, mouse
  • Polycomb-Group Proteins
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-myc
  • Repressor Proteins

Grants and funding

This work was supported by the Associazione Italiana Ricerca sul Cancro (AIRC) IG 2011-11982; Regione Toscana programma salute; and Ministero della Salute Bando Cellule Staminali. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.