A dynamic CTCF chromatin binding landscape promotes DNA hydroxymethylation and transcriptional induction of adipocyte differentiation.

CCCTC-binding factor (CTCF) is a ubiquitously expressed multifunctional transcription factor characterized by chromatin binding patterns often described as largely invariant. In this context, how CTCF chromatin recruitment and functionalities are used to promote cell type-specific gene expression remains poorly defined. Here, we show that, in addition to constitutively bound CTCF binding sites (CTS), the CTCF cistrome comprises a large proportion of sites showing highly dynamic binding patterns during the course of adipogenesis. Interestingly, dynamic CTCF chromatin binding is positively linked with changes in expression of genes involved in biological functions defining the different stages of adipogenesis. Importantly, a subset of these dynamic CTS are gained at cell type-specific regulatory regions, in line with a requirement for CTCF in transcriptional induction of adipocyte differentiation. This relates to, at least in part, CTCF requirement for transcriptional activation of both the nuclear receptor peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARG) and its target genes. Functionally, we show that CTCF interacts with TET methylcytosine dioxygenase (TET) enzymes and promotes adipogenic transcriptional enhancer DNA hydroxymethylation. Our study reveals a dynamic CTCF chromatin binding landscape required for epigenomic remodeling of enhancers and transcriptional activation driving cell differentiation.

The RBM14/CoAA-interacting, long intergenic non-coding RNA Paral1 regulates adipogenesis and coactivates the nuclear receptor PPARγ.

Adipocyte differentiation and function relies on a network of transcription factors, which is disrupted in obesity-associated low grade, chronic inflammation leading to adipose tissue dysfunction. In this context, there is a need for a thorough understanding of the transcriptional regulatory network involved in adipose tissue pathophysiology. Recent advances in the functional annotation of the genome has highlighted the role of non-coding RNAs in cellular differentiation processes in coordination with transcription factors. Using an unbiased genome-wide approach, we identified and characterized a novel long intergenic non-coding RNA (lincRNA) strongly induced during adipocyte differentiation. This lincRNA favors adipocyte differentiation and coactivates the master adipogenic regulator peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARγ) through interaction with the paraspeckle component and hnRNP-like RNA binding protein 14 (RBM14/NCoAA), and was therefore called PPARγ-activator RBM14-associated lncRNA (Paral1). Paral1 expression is restricted to adipocytes and decreased in humans with increasing body mass index. A decreased expression was also observed in diet-induced or genetic mouse models of obesity and this down-regulation was mimicked in vitro by TNF treatment. In conclusion, we have identified a novel component of the adipogenic transcriptional regulatory network defining the lincRNA Paral1 as an obesity-sensitive regulator of adipocyte differentiation and function.