Standard Chromatin Immunoprecipitation Research Articles

CUT&RUN detects distinct DNA footprints of RNA polymerase II near the transcription start sites

CUT&RUN is a powerful tool to study protein-DNA interactions in vivo. DNA fragments cleaved by the targeted micrococcal nuclease identify the footprints of DNA-binding proteins on the chromatin. We performed CUT&RUN on human lung carcinoma cell line A549 maintained in a multi-well cell culture plate to profile RNA polymerase II. Long (> 270 bp) DNA fragments released by CUT&RUN corresponded to the bimodal peak around the transcription start sites, as previously seen with chromatin immunoprecipitation. However, we found that short (< 120 bp) fragments identify a well-defined peak localised at the transcription start sites. This distinct DNA footprint of short fragments, which constituted only about 5% of the total reads, suggests the transient positioning of RNA polymerase II before promoter-proximal pausing, which has not been detected in the physiological settings by standard chromatin immunoprecipitation. We showed that the positioning of the large-size-class DNA footprints around the short-fragment peak was associated with the directionality of transcription, demonstrating the biological significance of distinct CUT&RUN footprints of RNA polymerase II.

Building a Robust Chromatin Immunoprecipitation Method with Substantially Improved Efficiency.

Chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) is the gold-standard method for detection of interactions between proteins and chromatin and is a powerful tool for identification of epigenetic modifications. Although ChIP protocols for plant species have been developed, many specific features of plants, especially woody plants, still hinder the efficiency of immunoprecipitation, resulting in inefficient ChIP enrichment and an active demand for a highly efficient ChIP protocol. In this study, using birch (Betula platyphylla) and Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) as the research materials, we identified five factors closely associated with ChIP efficiency, including crosslinking, concentration of chromatin using centrifugal filters, use of a different immunoprecipitation buffer, rescue of DNA with proteinase K, and use of Suc to increase immunoprecipitation efficiency. Optimization of any these factors can significantly improve ChIP efficiency. Considering these factors together, we developed a robust ChIP protocol that achieved a 14-fold improvement in ChIP enrichment for birch and a >6-fold improvement for Arabidopsis compared to the standard ChIP method. As this ChIP method works well in both birch and Arabidopsis, it should also be suitable for other woody and herbaceous species. In addition, this ChIP method enables detection of low-abundance transcription factor-DNA interactions and may extend the application of ChIP in the plant kingdom.

Measuring Histone Modifications in the Human Parasite Schistosoma mansoni.

DNA-binding proteins play critical roles in many major processes such as development and sexual biology of Schistosoma mansoni and are important for the pathogenesis of schistosomiasis. Chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) experiments followed by sequencing (ChIP-seq) are useful to characterize the association of genomic regions with posttranslational chemical modifications of histone proteins. Challenges in the standard ChIP protocol have motivated recent enhancements in this approach, such as reducing the number of cells required and increasing the resolution. In this chapter, we describe the latest advances made by our group in the ChIP methods to improve the standard ChIP protocol to reduce the number of input cells required and to increase the resolution and robustness of ChIP in S. mansoni.

Transcription factor Fra-1 targets arginase-1 to enhance macrophage-mediated inflammation in arthritis.

The polarization of macrophages is regulated by transcription factors such as nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) and activator protein 1 (AP-1). In this manuscript, we delineated the role of the transcription factor Fos-related antigen 1 (Fra-1) during macrophage activation and development of arthritis. Network level interaction analysis of microarray data derived from Fra-1- or Fra-2-deficient macrophages revealed a central role of Fra-1, but not of Fra-2 in orchestrating the expression of genes related to wound response, toll-like receptor activation and interleukin signaling. Chromatin-immunoprecipitation (ChIP)-sequencing and standard ChIP analyses of macrophages identified arginase 1 (Arg1) as a target of Fra-1. Luciferase reporter assays revealed that Fra-1 down-regulated Arg1 expression by direct binding to the promoter region. Using macrophage-specific Fra-1- or Fra-2- deficient mice, we observed an enhanced expression and activity of Arg1 and a reduction of arthritis in the absence of Fra-1, but not of Fra-2. This phenotype was reversed by treatment with the arginase inhibitor Nω-hydroxy-nor-L-arginine, while ʟ-arginine supplementation increased arginase activity and alleviated arthritis, supporting the notion that reduced arthritis in macrophage-specific Fra-1-deficient mice resulted from enhanced Arg1 expression and activity. Moreover, patients with active RA showed increased Fra-1 expression in the peripheral blood and elevated Fra-1 protein in synovial macrophages compared to RA patients in remission. In addition, the Fra-1/ARG1 ratio in synovial macrophages was related to RA disease activity. In conclusion, these data suggest that Fra-1 orchestrates the inflammatory state of macrophages by inhibition of Arg1 expression and thereby impedes the resolution of inflammation.

Identification of β-catenin-interacting proteins in nuclear fractions of native rat collecting duct cells.

The gene encoding the aquaporin-2 water channel is regulated transcriptionally in response to vasopressin. In the renal collecting duct, vasopressin stimulates the nuclear translocation and phosphorylation (at Ser552) of β-catenin, a multifunctional protein that acts as a transcriptional coregulator in the nucleus. The purpose of this study was to identify β-catenin-interacting proteins that might be involved in transcriptional regulation in rat inner medullary collecting duct (IMCD) cells, using experimental and computational approaches. We used a standard chromatin immunoprecipitation procedure coupled to mass spectrometry (ChIP-MS) in a nuclear fraction isolated from rat IMCD suspensions. Over four biological replicates, we reproducibly identified 43 β-catenin-binding proteins, including several known β-catenin-binding partners as well as novel interacting proteins. Multiple proteins involved in transcriptional regulation were identified (Taf1, Jup, Tdrd3, Cdh1, Cenpj, and several histones). Many of the identified β-catenin-binding partners were found in prior studies to translocate to the nucleus in response to vasopressin. There was only one DNA-binding transcription factor (TF), specifically Taf1, part of the RNA-polymerase II preinitiation complex. To identify sequence-specific TFs that might interact with β-catenin, Bayes' theorem was used to integrate data from several information sources. The analysis identified several TFs with potential binding sites in the Aqp2 gene promoter that could interact with β-catenin in the regulation of Aqp2 gene transcription, specifically Jun, Junb, Jund, Atf1, Atf2, Mef2d, Usf1, Max, Pou2f1, and Rxra. The findings provide information necessary for modeling the transcriptional response to vasopressin.

Characterization of Cell-Type-Specific DNA Binding Sites of Plant Transcription Factors Using Chromatin Immunoprecipitation.

The generation of diverse cell types in multicellular organisms often requires the activity of cell-type-specific transcription factors. Understanding where these transcription factors bind in controlling specific cellular programs is critical. However, probing these cell-type-specific factors in vivo with standard chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) assays remains a challenge. We have developed an optimized ChIP assay termed Maximized Objects for Better Enrichment (MOBE)-ChIP, which improves ChIP sensitivity and allows the detection of cell-type-specific signals at a genome-wide scale. Here, I describe the procedure for implementing this method for the study of plant transcription factors. Besides being useful for cell-type-specific studies, MOBE-ChIP can also be employed as a general strategy for enhancing ChIP signals.

Characterization of histone modifications associated with DNA damage repair genes upon exposure to gamma rays in Arabidopsis seedlings.

Dynamic histone modifications play an important role in controlling gene expression in response to various environmental cues. This mechanism of regulation of gene expression is important for sessile organisms, like land plants. We have previously reported consistent upregulation of various marker genes in response to gamma rays at various post-irradiation times. In the present study, we performed various chromatin modification analyses at selected loci using the standard chromatin immunoprecipitation procedure, and demonstrate that upregulation of these genes is associated with histone H3 lysine 4 tri-methylation (H3K4me3) at the gene body or transcription start sites of these loci. Further, at specific AtAgo2 loci, both H3K4me3 and histone H3 lysine 9 acetylation (H3K9ac) are important in controlling gene expression in response to gamma irradiation. There was no change in DNA methylation in these selected loci. We conclude that specific histone modification such as H3K4me3 and H3K9ac may be more important in activating gene expression in these selected loci in response to gamma irradiation than a change in DNA methylation.

The transcription factor TBX2 regulates melanogenesis in melanocytes by repressing Oca2.

The T-box transcription factor TBX2 is known for its role as a critical regulator of melanoma cell proliferation, but its role in regulating melanogenesis has not been widely studied. Here we use a series of experiments to show in primary and immortalized mouse melanocytes that TBX2 acts as regulator of melanogenesis by repressing the expression of the gene encoding the melanosomal protein OCA2. We find that α-MSH or forskolin, both of which stimulate melanogenesis, also reduce TBX2 expression, and that specific knockdown of TBX2 increases melanogenesis. This effect primarily involves an increase in Oca2 expression as the combined knockdown of both Tbx2 and Oca2 interferes with the Tbx2 knockdown-mediated increase in melanogenesis. Standard chromatin immunoprecipitation and reporter assays suggest that TBX2 represses Oca2 at least in part directly. Hence, the results suggest that TBX2 may act as a nexus linking cell proliferation and melanogenesis.

Chromatin Immunoprecipitation.

Chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) is a valuable method to investigate protein-DNA interactions in vivo. Since its discovery it has been indispensable to identify binding sites and patterns of a variety of DNA-interacting proteins, such as transcription factors and regulators, modified histones, and epigenetic modifiers. The Polycomb repressors were the first proteins that have been mapped using this technique, which provided the mechanistic basis for the understanding of their biological function. Cross-linked (XChIP) or native (NChIP) chromatin from tissues or cultured cells is fragmented and the protein of interest is immunoprecipitated using a specific antibody. The co-precipitated DNA is then purified and subjected to analysis by region-specific PCR, DNA microarray (ChIP-on-chip), or next-generation sequencing (ChIP-seq). The assay can therefore produce information about the localization of the analyzed protein at specific candidate loci or throughout the entire genome. In this chapter, we provide a detailed protocol of the basic standard ChIP assay and some remarks about variations.

MOBE-ChIP: a large-scale chromatin immunoprecipitation assay for cell type-specific studies.

Cell type-specific transcriptional regulators play critical roles in the generation and maintenance of multicellularity. As they are often expressed at low levels, in vivo DNA-binding studies of these regulators by standard chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) assays are technically challenging. We describe here an optimized ChIP protocol termed Maximized Objects for Better Enrichment (MOBE)-ChIP, which enhances the sensitivity of ChIP assays for detecting cell type-specific signals. The protocol, which is based on the disproportional increase of target signals over background at higher scales, uses substantially greater volume of starting materials than conventional ChIPs to achieve high signal enrichment. This technique can capture weak binding events that are ambiguous in standard ChIP assays, and is useful both in gene-specific and whole-genome analysis. This protocol has been optimized for Arabidopsis, but should be applicable to other model systems with minor modifications. The full procedure can be completed within 3 days.

DNA Methylation Analysis of ChIP Products at Single Nucleotide Resolution by Pyrosequencing®.

Interaction and co-occurrence of protein and DNA-based epigenetic modifications have become a topic of interest for many fundamental and biomedical questions. We describe within this chapter a protocol that combines two techniques in order to determine the methylation status of the DNA specifically associated with a protein of interest. First, DNA that directly interacts with the selected protein (such as a specific histone modification, a transcription factor, or any other DNA-associated protein) is purified by standard chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP). Second, the level of DNA methylation of this immunoprecipitated DNA is measured by bisulfite conversion and Pyrosequencing, a quantitative sequencing-by-synthesis method. This procedure allows determining the methylation status of genomic DNA associated to a specific protein at single nucleotide resolution.

Immediate chromatin immunoprecipitation and on-bead quantitative PCR analysis: a versatile and rapid ChIP procedure.

Genome-wide chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) studies have brought significant insight into the genomic localization of chromatin-associated proteins and histone modifications. The large amount of data generated by these analyses, however, require approaches that enable rapid validation and analysis of biological relevance. Furthermore, there are still protein and modification targets that are difficult to detect using standard ChIP methods. To address these issues, we developed an immediate chromatin immunoprecipitation procedure which we call ZipChip. ZipChip significantly reduces the time and increases sensitivity allowing for rapid screening of multiple loci. Here we describe how ZipChIP enables detection of histone modifications (H3K4 mono- and trimethylation) and two yeast histone demethylases, Jhd2 and Rph1, which were previously difficult to detect using standard methods. Furthermore, we demonstrate the versatility of ZipChIP by analyzing the enrichment of the histone deacetylase Sir2 at heterochromatin in yeast and enrichment of the chromatin remodeler, PICKLE, at euchromatin in Arabidopsis thaliana.

A robust chromatin immunoprecipitation protocol for studying transcription factor-DNA interactions and histone modifications in wood-forming tissue.

Woody cells and tissues are recalcitrant to standard chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) procedures. However, we recently successfully implemented ChIP in wood-forming tissue of the model woody plant Populus trichocarpa. Here we provide the detailed ChIP protocol optimized for wood-forming tissue that we used in those studies. By using stem-differentiating xylem (SDX; a wood-forming tissue), we identified all steps that were ineffective in standard ChIP protocols and systematically modified them to develop and optimize a robust ChIP protocol. The protocol includes tissue collection, cross-linking, nuclear isolation, chromatin extraction, DNA fragmentation, immunoprecipitation, DNA purification and sequence analysis. The protocol takes 2.5 d to complete and allows a robust 8-10-fold enrichment of transcription factor (TF)-bound genomic fragments (~150 ng/g of SDX) over nonspecific DNAs. The enriched DNAs are of high quality and can be used for subsequent PCR and DNA-seq analyses. We used this protocol to identify genome-wide specific TF-DNA interactions during wood formation and histone modifications associated with regulation of wood formation. Our protocol, which may be suitable for many tissue types, is so far the only working ChIP system for wood-forming tissue.

The nucleosomal barrier to promoter escape by RNA polymerase II is overcome by the chromatin remodeler Chd1.

RNA polymerase II (PolII) transcribes RNA within a chromatin context, with nucleosomes acting as barriers to transcription. Despite these barriers, transcription through chromatin in vivo is highly efficient, suggesting the existence of factors that overcome this obstacle. To increase the resolution obtained by standard chromatin immunoprecipitation, we developed a novel strategy using micrococcal nuclease digestion of cross-linked chromatin. We find that the chromatin remodeler Chd1 is recruited to promoter proximal nucleosomes of genes undergoing active transcription, where Chd1 is responsible for the vast majority of PolII-directed nucleosome turnover. The expression of a dominant negative form of Chd1 results in increased stalling of PolII past the entry site of the promoter proximal nucleosomes. We find that Chd1 evicts nucleosomes downstream of the promoter in order to overcome the nucleosomal barrier and enable PolII promoter escape, thus providing mechanistic insight into the role of Chd1 in transcription and pluripotency. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.7554/eLife.02042.001.

Abstract B58: Implementation of a synthetic reagent to mimic chromatin provides a chromatin immunoprecipitation quantitative control

Abstract Chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) is an analytical method used to investigate interaction of proteins with specific genomic DNA regions in vivo to provide a better understanding of mechanisms of gene regulation, DNA replication and DNA repair. However, variations in the efficiency of immunoprecipitation, background signals from carryover in immunoprecipitation, variability between chromatin preps, and loss of material during immunoprecipitation and purification of the ChIP DNA are sources of variability that restrict the use of ChIP as a quantitative tool. To address these limitations, we have developed a simple spike-in control that enables labs to generate results that are more consistent and more quantitative. The approach we have developed uses a synthetic peptide-DNA reagent that is spiked into chromatin immunoprecipitation reactions. Because this reagent mimics the behavior of cross-linked chromatin and can be quantitatively recovered by immunoprecipitation, it can be readily incorporated in to virtually any ChIP protocol. To utilize this internal control, a fixed amount of the synthetic peptide-DNA complex is spiked into the chromatin and co-ChIPed simultaneously with the antibody of interest. The recovered synthetic DNA is then used to normalize the results obtained with the antibody of interest. This spike-in control can be designed using a peptide specific to the ChIP antibody of interest and recovered using a single antibody. Alternatively, a universal spike-in control can be designed using a peptide that is recognized by an epitope tag antibody. This universal spike-in control and epitope tagged antibody are used along with the antibody of interest in a standard ChIP reaction. Our data show that the inclusion of our internal control significantly reduces variability between ChIP assays, thus increasing the accuracy of the ChIP data. Because of the universal feature, this method can also be used to compare ChIP data between different antibodies or to normalize data variations that often result between users and multiple experiments. Furthermore, experiments are underway to confirm that such a spike in control can be incorporated upstream of chromatin preparation, and is capable of being adapted for NGS library construction to aid in normalization between chromatin NGS experiments. Citation Format: John M. Rosenfeld, Zirong Li, Konstantin Taganov, Tracy Cooke, Bhaskar Thyagarajan, Alejandra Solache. Implementation of a synthetic reagent to mimic chromatin provides a chromatin immunoprecipitation quantitative control. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Special Conference on Chromatin and Epigenetics in Cancer; Jun 19-22, 2013; Atlanta, GA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2013;73(13 Suppl):Abstract nr B58.

Abstract 5021: Native accessible ChIP: A novel approach to interrogate protein-DNA interactions in accessible chromatin

Abstract Recently we developed novel technology for isolating accessible chromatin. When cells are permeabilized and treated with nuclease in situ, small DNA fragments, corresponding to accessible chromatin can be easily isolated and characterized. These DNA fragments, when analyzed by next-generation sequencing, provide a global map of accessible chromatin. We now report that the accessible chromatin isolated from cells is still associated with its cognate DNA-binding proteins and histones. Based on this, we developed a novel chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) assay that does not require protein-DNA cross-linking or DNA shearing. Using this method, termed NA-ChIP (for native accessible ChIP), we demonstrate that RNA polymerase II (RNAPII), TBP and H3K4me3 are all associated with active promoters, but are rarely detected at silenced promoters. Comparison of NA-ChIP and a standard ChIP assay shows that immunoprecipitation (IP) efficiency is similar, but IP specificity is dramatically different. To measure IP specificity we compared the ratio of active promoter DNA precipitated with RNAPII (signal) relative to inactive promoter DNA precipitated (noise). We find that NA-ChIP is highly specific with a signal-to-noise ratio &amp;gt;500; standard ChIP is less specific with a signal-to-noise ratio of about 9. We conclude that NA-ChIP offers significant advantages over standard ChIP, including dramatically reduced background and an easier workflow. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 103rd Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2012 Mar 31-Apr 4; Chicago, IL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2012;72(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 5021. doi:1538-7445.AM2012-5021

Abstract 2209: Cellular characterization of chromatin state via high throughput ChIP assay

Abstract Expression of eukaryotic genes during development requires complex spatial-temporal regulation. This complex regulation is often achieved through the coordinated interaction of transcription regulatory elements in the promoters of the target genes. The identification and mapping of regulatory elements in genome scale is crucial to understand how gene expression is regulated. Chromatin immunoprecipitation is a standard method for assessing the occupancy of DNA binding proteins in vivo in their native chromatin context using antibodies. However, standard chromatin immunoprecipitation procedure is time consuming, labor intensive and not suited for analyzing many samples simultaneously. Recently, we have developed a simple high throughput chromatin immunoprecipitation protocol that utilizes high capacity protein A/G coated magnetic beads and 96 well plates. This protocol requires fewer steps and less hands-on time, has higher sensitivity and more reliable performance as compared to conventional approaches. The method is also compatible with multi-channel pipetting and liquid handling systems. We have successfully used this protocol to map various clinically relevant chromatin marks and controls across several cell types to quantitatively measure chromatin states. This analysis included a variety of marks corresponding to repressed, poised and active promoters, strong and weak enhancers, putative insulators, transcribed regions, as well as large-scale repressed and inactive domains. This study demonstrates the utility of this approach for the characterization of model cellular systems in perturbation studies with chemical probes. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 103rd Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2012 Mar 31-Apr 4; Chicago, IL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2012;72(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 2209. doi:1538-7445.AM2012-2209

Native Accessible ChIP: A Novel Approach to Interrogate Protein‐DNA Interactions in Accessible Chromatin

We have developed a novel technology for isolating accessible chromatin. When cells are permeabilized and treated with nuclease in situ, small DNA fragments, corresponding to accessible chromatin can be easily isolated and characterized. We now report that the isolated accessible chromatin is still associated with its cognate DNA‐binding proteins and histones. Based on this, we developed a novel chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) procedure that does not require protein‐DNA cross‐linking or DNA shearing. Using this method, termed NA‐ChIP (for native accessible ChIP), we demonstrate that RNA polymerase II (RNAPII), TBP and H3K4me3 are all associated with active promoters, but are rarely detected at silenced promoters. Comparison of NA‐ChIP and a standard ChIP assay shows that immunoprecipitation (IP) efficiency is similar, but IP specificity is dramatically different. To measure IP specificity we compared the ratio of active promoter DNA precipitated with RNAPII (signal) relative to inactive promoter DNA precipitated (noise). We find that NA‐ChIP is highly specific with a signal‐to‐noise ratio &gt;500; standard ChIP is less specific with a signal‐to‐noise ratio of 9. We conclude that NA‐ChIP offers significant advantages over standard ChIP, including dramatically reduced background and an easier workflow.

Chromatin Composition Is Changed by Poly(ADP-ribosyl)ation during Chromatin Immunoprecipitation

Chromatin-immunoprecipitation (ChIP) employs generally a mild formaldehyde cross-linking step, which is followed by isolation of specific protein-DNA complexes and subsequent PCR testing, to analyze DNA-protein interactions. Poly(ADP-ribosyl)ation, a posttranslational modification involved in diverse cellular functions like repair, replication, transcription, and cell death regulation, is most prominent after DNA damage. Poly(ADP-ribose)polymerase-1 is activated upon binding to DNA strand-breaks and coordinates repair by recruitment or displacement of proteins. Several proteins involved in different nuclear pathways are directly modified or contain poly(ADP-ribose)-interaction motifs. Thus, poly(ADP-ribose) regulates chromatin composition. In immunofluorescence experiments, we noticed artificial polymer-formation after formaldehyde-fixation of undamaged cells. Therefore, we analyzed if the formaldehyde applied during ChIP also induces poly(ADP-ribosyl)ation and its impact on chromatin composition. We observed massive polymer-formation in three different ChIP-protocols tested independent on the cell line. This was due to induction of DNA damage signaling as monitored by γH2AX formation. To abrogate poly(ADP-ribose) synthesis, we inhibited this enzymatic reaction either pharmacologically or by increased formaldehyde concentration. Both approaches changed ChIP-efficiency. Additionally, we detected specific differences in promoter-occupancy of tested transcription factors as well as the in the presence of histone H1 at the respective sites. In summary, we show here that standard ChIP is flawed by artificial formation of poly(ADP-ribose) and suppression of this enzymatic activity improves ChIP-efficiency in general. Also, we detected specific changes in promoter-occupancy dependent on poly(ADP-ribose). By preventing polymer synthesis with the proposed modifications in standard ChIP protocols it is now possible to analyze the natural chromatin-composition.

Massive-scale RNA-Seq experiments in human genetic diseases

http://www.igb.cnr.itSince 2008, our research group is actively working in the field of NGS, with particular attention to RNA-Seq as innovative approach to understand cells’ transcriptome in disease states (Costa et al., 2010a). In particular, combining molecular biology and computational expertise, we have recently analysed (Costa et al., 2011) by RNA-Seq - for the first time in Down syndrome (DS) - the global transcriptome of endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs), morphologically and functionally impaired in DS (Costa et al., 2010b). After rRNA depletion - followed by strand specific sequencing - we measured expression from (even) low expressed genes, we identified new regions of active transcription outside annotated loci, novel splice isoforms and extended untranslated regions for known genes, potentially new microRNA targets or regulatory sites. However, although RNA-Seq provided a huge amount of useful data for DS, showing a genome-wide alteration of gene expression (not limited to HSA21 genes), the experiment revealed only a fraction of the underlying complexity, giving no information about the reasons of such global deregulation. Therefore, in this ongoing project we aim to study: 1) by ChIP-Seq, the binding maps of some (preliminarily selected) transcription factors (TFs), key players in gene expression modulation, and 2) by RNA-Seq, the related gene expression changes in the same cells. ChIP-Seq, combining standard chromatin immunoprecipitation and massively parallel sequencing, allows to identify DNA sequences bound by TFs in vivo, helping to decipher gene regulatory networks (Park 2009). We believe that integrating RNA- and ChIP-Seq data would provide much more biological insights into gene expression regulation in DS cells, helping us to better understand some blood-related pathological aspects of the syndrome.Our group is also participating to a large-scale collaborative industrial project aimed to develop a diagnostic kit for personalized therapeutic strategies in type 2 diabetic (T2D) patients resistant to conventional drug therapies. In particular, to elucidate some mechanisms of drug resistance, our group will perform massive-scale transcriptome analysis by RNA-Seq in a well-selected subset of individuals (~50), also collaborating with bioinformaticians to further data analysis.In the light of these considerations, and given the objectives of the COST Action BM1006, our group will contribute to the goals of the SEQAHEAD project by actively integrating in the newborn European network of NGS, providing its expertise in sequencing technologies with a particular contribution (protocols, experimental data and pipelines for data analysis) to the RNA-Seq.