High-resolution genome-wide in vivo footprinting of diverse transcription factors in human cells

Genome Res. 2011 Mar;21(3):456-64. doi: 10.1101/gr.112656.110. Epub 2010 Nov 24.

Abstract

Regulation of gene transcription in diverse cell types is determined largely by varied sets of cis-elements where transcription factors bind. Here we demonstrate that data from a single high-throughput DNase I hypersensitivity assay can delineate hundreds of thousands of base-pair resolution in vivo footprints in human cells that precisely mark individual transcription factor-DNA interactions. These annotations provide a unique resource for the investigation of cis-regulatory elements. We find that footprints for specific transcription factors correlate with ChIP-seq enrichment and can accurately identify functional versus nonfunctional transcription factor motifs. We also find that footprints reveal a unique evolutionary conservation pattern that differentiates functional footprinted bases from surrounding DNA. Finally, detailed analysis of CTCF footprints suggests multiple modes of binding and a novel DNA binding motif upstream of the primary binding site.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Base Sequence
  • Binding Sites
  • Cell Line
  • DNA / metabolism
  • DNA-Binding Proteins / genetics
  • DNA-Binding Proteins / metabolism*
  • Deoxyribonuclease I / metabolism
  • Genome
  • Genomics
  • Humans
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Promoter Regions, Genetic
  • Protein Binding / genetics
  • Protein Footprinting / methods*
  • Transcription Factors / genetics
  • Transcription Factors / metabolism*
  • Transcription, Genetic

Substances

  • DNA-Binding Proteins
  • Transcription Factors
  • DNA
  • Deoxyribonuclease I

Associated data

  • GEO/GSE19622
  • GEO/GSE25442