INTERPLAY BETWEEN TRANSCRIPTION FACTORS AND DNA METHYLATION

Abstract

Transcription factor (TF) is a sequence-specific DNA binding protein. Although previous in vitro assessments have unveiled multifaceted effects of DNA methylation on TF binding dynamics, the in vivo interplays between TFs and DNA methylation remain elusive. In order to fill the gap, we have developed two novel bioinformatics resources, MethMotif and TFregulomeR. MethMotif is a cell-specific TF motif database which records DNA methylation within TF binding sites (TFBS), while TFregulomeR is a TFBS analysis tool which allows a context-specific analysis of TF cofactors and functions coupled with DNA methylation. In addition, MethMotif reports a unique TF, ZBTB33, which preferentially binds to methylated DNA. Further analyses have suggested its repressive role in chromatin modulation. Moreover, TFregulomeR has enabled us to identify multiple methylated-CpG binding TF complexes which potentially recruit DNMT3B to induce local DNA methylation. In summary, our studies could foster the understanding of interactions between TFs and DNA methylation.