Recruitment of ETS1 to activated accessible regions promotes cilia genes transcriptional program in ciliopathy [WES]

Defects in cilia genes that is critical in cilia formation and function can cause complicated ciliopathy syndromes involving multiple organs and tissues; however, the underlying regulatory mechanisms of cilia gene networks in ciliopathy are largely unknown. Here, we define the genome-wide redistribution of chromatin accessibilities and extensive divergence of cilia genes expression programs happened in ciliopathy. Mechanistically, the distinct ciliopathy-activated accessible regions (CAAs) are characterized to positively regulate robust changes of flanking cilia genes, which are a key transcriptional feature of cilia required for the response to developmental signals. Moreover, the single transcriptional factors, ETS1, can be recruited to CAAs thus prominently reconstructing chromatin accessibility in ciliopathy. CAAs collapse driven by ETS1 suppression subsequently cause defective cilia formation and impaired developmental signal transduction, which eventually develops ciliopathy phenotypes of short fins and pericardium edema in larval fishes. Therefore, our results depicted a dynamic landscape of chromatin accessibility in ciliopathy, and uncover an insightful role of ETS1 in controlling global cilia genes transcriptional program by reprogramming widespread chromatin state. Overall design: Whole exome sequencing