Evolutionary conserved NSL complex/BRD4 axis controls transcription activation via histone acetylation

Cells rely on a diverse repertoire of genes for maintaining homeostasis, but the transcriptional networks underlying their expression remain poorly understood. The MOF acetyltransferase-containing Non-Specific Lethal (NSL) complex is a broad transcription regulator. It is essential in Drosophila and haploinsufficiency of the human KANSL1 subunit results in the Koolen-de Vries syndrome. Here, we perform a genome-wide RNAi screen and identify the BET protein BRD4 as evolutionary conserved co-factor of the NSL complex. Using Drosophila and mouse embryonic stem cells, we characterise a recruitment hierarchy, where NSL-deposited histone acetylation induces BRD4 recruitment for transcription of constitutively active genes. Transcriptome analyses in Koolen-de Vries patient-derived fibroblasts reveals perturbations with a cellular homeostasis signature that are evoked by the NSL complex/BRD4-axis. We propose that BRD4 represents a conserved bridge between the NSL complex and transcription activation and provide a new perspective in the understanding of their functions in healthy and diseased states. ChIP-seq profiles of Biotin-tagged dBRD4,endogenous dBRD4, H4K16ac, H3 and Rpb3 from Drosophila melanogaster cells (S2 cells) Please note that each processed data was generated from both replicates and is linked to the corresponding rep1 sample records.