TCF4 and CDX2, major transcription factors for intestinal function, converge on the same cis-regulatory regions

MP Verzi, P Hatzis, R Sulahian… - Proceedings of the …, 2010 - National Acad Sciences
MP Verzi, P Hatzis, R Sulahian, J Philips, J Schuijers, H Shin, E Freed, JP Lynch, DT Dang…
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 2010National Acad Sciences
Surprisingly few pathways signal between cells, raising questions about mechanisms for
tissue-specific responses. In particular, Wnt ligands signal in many mammalian tissues,
including the intestinal epithelium, where constitutive signaling causes cancer. Genome-
wide analysis of DNA cis-regulatory regions bound by the intestine-restricted transcription
factor CDX2 in colonic cells uncovered highly significant overrepresentation of sequences
that bind TCF4, a transcriptional effector of intestinal Wnt signaling. Chromatin …
Surprisingly few pathways signal between cells, raising questions about mechanisms for tissue-specific responses. In particular, Wnt ligands signal in many mammalian tissues, including the intestinal epithelium, where constitutive signaling causes cancer. Genome-wide analysis of DNA cis-regulatory regions bound by the intestine-restricted transcription factor CDX2 in colonic cells uncovered highly significant overrepresentation of sequences that bind TCF4, a transcriptional effector of intestinal Wnt signaling. Chromatin immunoprecipitation confirmed TCF4 occupancy at most such sites and co-occupancy of CDX2 and TCF4 across short distances. A region spanning the single nucleotide polymorphism rs6983267, which lies within a MYC enhancer and confers colorectal cancer risk in humans, represented one of many co-occupied sites. Co-occupancy correlated with intestine-specific gene expression and CDX2 loss reduced TCF4 binding. These results implicate CDX2 in directing TCF4 binding in intestinal cells. Co-occupancy of regulatory regions by signal-effector and tissue-restricted transcription factors may represent a general mechanism for ubiquitous signaling pathways to achieve tissue-specific outcomes.
National Acad Sciences