Transcriptional programming of cell identity is gaining importance at both basic developmental and clinical level. While the phenomenology of cell programming and reprogramming by forced expression of transcription factors is well described, the mechanism of action of programming factors or the sequence of regulatory events resulting in a cell adopting a new identity are largely unknown. We propose to combine the strengths of stem cell biology with genomic and computational approaches to characterize the process of transcriptional programming of motor neuron (MN) identity. We developed efficient methods for the induction of MN identity in differentiating embryonic stem cells (ESCs) by the expression of defined transcription factors. Using the system we will combine biochemical, genomic and computational analysis to address following questions: i) whether programming factors directly regulate terminal motor neuron effector genes or initiate a cascade of intermediate transcription programs;ii) whether recruitment of programming factors to DNA is cooperative and which factors determine the specificity of DNA binding;iii) whether identified MN enhancers are inaccessible for programming factor binding in cell types refractory to MN programming;iv) whether identified secondary binding motifs for Onecut and Ebf transcription factors contribute to productive regulation of MN specific gene expression;v) whether additional secondary motifs recruit ancillary transcription factors to NIL bound enhancers that contribute to productive regulation of MN specific gene expression. Together these studies will provide fundamental insight into the developmental processes underlying specification of defined cell identity and will provide novel and efficient source of motor neurons for disease modeling, study and drug discovery.

Public Health Relevance

We propose to characterize the process of transcriptional programming of motor neuron identity. Understanding the process through which sets of transcription factors control gene expression will inform novel and efficient ways to generate clinically relevant cell types from pluripotent stem cells.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01NS078097-02
Application #
8537518
Study Section
Neurogenesis and Cell Fate Study Section (NCF)
Program Officer
Owens, David F
Project Start
2012-09-01
Project End
2017-07-31
Budget Start
2013-08-01
Budget End
2014-07-31
Support Year
2
Fiscal Year
2013
Total Cost
$538,804
Indirect Cost
$110,603
Name
Columbia University (N.Y.)
Department
Pathology
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
621889815
City
New York
State
NY
Country
United States
Zip Code
10032
Tan, G Christopher; Mazzoni, Esteban O; Wichterle, Hynek (2016) Iterative Role of Notch Signaling in Spinal Motor Neuron Diversification. Cell Rep 16:907-916
Rhee, Ho Sung; Closser, Michael; Guo, Yuchun et al. (2016) Expression of Terminal Effector Genes in Mammalian Neurons Is Maintained by a Dynamic Relay of Transient Enhancers. Neuron 92:1252-1265
Reeder, Christopher; Closser, Michael; Poh, Huay Mei et al. (2015) High resolution mapping of enhancer-promoter interactions. PLoS One 10:e0122420
Mahony, Shaun; Edwards, Matthew D; Mazzoni, Esteban O et al. (2014) An integrated model of multiple-condition ChIP-Seq data reveals predeterminants of Cdx2 binding. PLoS Comput Biol 10:e1003501
Lodato, Simona; Molyneaux, Bradley J; Zuccaro, Emanuela et al. (2014) Gene co-regulation by Fezf2 selects neurotransmitter identity and connectivity of corticospinal neurons. Nat Neurosci 17:1046-54
Wichterle, Hynek; Gifford, David; Mazzoni, Esteban (2013) Neuroscience. Mapping neuronal diversity one cell at a time. Science 341:726-7
Mazzoni, Esteban O; Mahony, Shaun; Closser, Michael et al. (2013) Synergistic binding of transcription factors to cell-specific enhancers programs motor neuron identity. Nat Neurosci 16:1219-27
Mazzoni, Esteban O; Mahony, Shaun; Peljto, Mirza et al. (2013) Saltatory remodeling of Hox chromatin in response to rostrocaudal patterning signals. Nat Neurosci 16:1191-1198