ATAC-seq data of Amphimedon queenslandica (Demosponge species) through eight developmental stages, from white stage (cleavage) to adult

We report a comprehensive DNA accessibility profile of the Demosponge species Amphimedon queenslandica using Assay for Transposase-Accessible Chromatin with sequencing (ATAC-seq) through six embryonic developmental stages, a larval stage and adult stage. We assessed the dynamics of chromatin accessibility and identified 40,218 consensus peaks, 4,751 of them were differentially accessible in at least one developmental stage. Cis-regulatory elements were more dynamically regulated while proximal elements were more likely to be constitutively active. Furthermore, we identify a shift towards repressive chromatin in mid and late developmental stages which coincide with the increase in expression of genes of Metazoan origin. Finally, we show that cis-regulatory regions are differentially enriched in different Transcription Factor binding sites (TFBS) which demarcate three main stages of development and importantly, they are predictive of cis-regulatory regions in other animal species but not in Capsaspora owczarzaki, a close relative of animals.