Ray-Jones, H.* ; Sung, C.K.* ; Chan, L.T.* ; Haglund, A.* ; Artemov, P.* ; Della Rosa, M.* ; Ruje, L.* ; Burden, F.* ; Kreuzhuber, R.* ; Litovskikh, A. ; Weyenbergh, E.* ; Brusselaers, Z.* ; Tan, V.X.H.* ; Frontini, M.* ; Wallace, C.* ; Malysheva, V.* ; Bottolo, L.* ; Vigorito, E.* ; Spivakov, M.*
Genetic coupling of enhancer activity and connectivity in gene expression control.
Nat. Commun. 16:970 (2025)
Gene enhancers often form long-range contacts with promoters, but it remains unclear if the activity of enhancers and their chromosomal contacts are mediated by the same DNA sequences and recruited factors. Here, we study the effects of expression quantitative trait loci (eQTLs) on enhancer activity and promoter contacts in primary monocytes isolated from 34 male individuals. Using eQTL-Capture Hi-C and a Bayesian approach considering both intra- and inter-individual variation, we initially detect 19 eQTLs associated with enhancer-eGene promoter contacts, most of which also associate with enhancer accessibility and activity. Capitalising on these shared effects, we devise a multi-modality Bayesian strategy, identifying 629 "trimodal QTLs" jointly associated with enhancer accessibility, eGene promoter contact, and gene expression. Causal mediation analysis and CRISPR interference reveal causal relationships between these three modalities. Many detected QTLs overlap disease susceptibility loci and influence the predicted binding of myeloid transcription factors, including SPI1, GABPB and STAT3. Additionally, a variant associated with PCK2 promoter contact directly disrupts a CTCF binding motif and impacts promoter insulation from downstream enhancers. Jointly, our findings suggest an inherent genetic coupling of enhancer activity and connectivity in gene expression control relevant to human disease and highlight the regulatory role of genetically determined chromatin boundaries.
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Publikationstyp
Artikel: Journalartikel
Dokumenttyp
Wissenschaftlicher Artikel
Typ der Hochschulschrift
Herausgeber
Schlagwörter
Range Chromatin Interactions; R/bioconductor Package; Transcription Factors; Genotype Imputation; Sex-differences; Eqtl Analysis; Variants; Binding; Model; Links
Keywords plus
Sprache
englisch
Veröffentlichungsjahr
2025
Prepublished im Jahr
0
HGF-Berichtsjahr
2025
ISSN (print) / ISBN
2041-1723
e-ISSN
2041-1723
ISBN
Bandtitel
Konferenztitel
Konferzenzdatum
Konferenzort
Konferenzband
Quellenangaben
Band: 16,
Heft: 1,
Seiten: ,
Artikelnummer: 970
Supplement: ,
Reihe
Verlag
Nature Publishing Group
Verlagsort
London
Tag d. mündl. Prüfung
0000-00-00
Betreuer
Gutachter
Prüfer
Topic
Hochschule
Hochschulort
Fakultät
Veröffentlichungsdatum
0000-00-00
Anmeldedatum
0000-00-00
Anmelder/Inhaber
weitere Inhaber
Anmeldeland
Priorität
Begutachtungsstatus
Peer reviewed
POF Topic(s)
30205 - Bioengineering and Digital Health
Forschungsfeld(er)
Enabling and Novel Technologies
PSP-Element(e)
G-503800-001
Förderungen
RCUK | Medical Research Council (MRC)
NIHR Exeter Biomedical Research Centre
BHF Cambridge Centre for Research Excellence
British Heart Foundation (BHF)
NIHR Cambridge Biomedical Research Centre
Marmaduke Sheild Fund
Alan Turing Institute under the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC)
MRC
Medical Research Council (MRC) of the UK through MRC
NHS Blood and Transplant, and Health Data Research UK as part of the Digital Innovation Hub Programme
UK's National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR)
Wellcome Trust
Copyright
Erfassungsdatum
2025-03-26