HELLS is required for DNA methylation at human satellite repeats [RNA-seq]

HELLS is a known chromatin remodeler, but its specific genomic targets have not been sufficiently described. Here, we report the generation of HELLS knockout human pluripotent cells and through telomere-to-telomere mapping of whole genome bisulfite sequencing data combined with ATAC-sequencing, we discovered a striking loss of DNA methylation over inaccessible, satellite repeats. Our study further clarifies the role of HELLS and provides insights into functional consequences through its deregulation in diseases. RNA-seq was performed on iPSCs and iPSC-derived Endoderm cells in WT and HELLS KO conditions.