Genome-Wide Silencer Screening Reveals Key Silencer Modulating Reprogramming Efficiency in Mouse Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells

Abstract

The majority of the mouse genome is composed of non-coding regions, which harbor numerous regulatory sequences essential for gene regulation. While extensive research focuses on enhancers that activate gene expression, the role of silencers that repress gene expression remains less explored. In this study, the first genome-wide identification of silencers in the mouse genome is conducted. In mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEFs) and embryonic stem cells (mESCs), 89 596 and 115 165 silencers are identified, respectively. These silencers are ubiquitously distributed across the genome and are predominantly associated with low-expression genes. Additionally, these silencers are mainly cell-specific and function by binding to repressive transcription factors (TFs). Further, these silencers are notably enriched with the histone modification H3K9me3. It is observed that the transformation between dual-function silencers and enhancers is correlated with intracellular transcription factor concentrations, accompanied by changes in epigenetic modifications. In terms of biological effects, we have identified silencers that can enhance the induction efficiency of MEFs and influence the pluripotency of mESCs. Collectively, this work offers the first comprehensive silencer landscape in the mouse genome and provides strong evidence for the role of silencers in the induction of induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs).