Different Chromatin and DNA Sequence Characteristics Define Glucocorticoid Receptor Binding Sites that are Blocked or Not Blocked by Coregulator Hic-5 [ATAC-seq]

The glucocorticoid-activated glucocorticoid receptor (GR) regulates cellular stress pathways by binding to genomic regulatory elements of target genes and recruiting coregulator proteins to remodel chromatin and regulate transcription complex assembly. The coregulator Hydrogen peroxide-inducible clone 5 (Hic-5) is required for glucocorticoid regulation of some genes, but not others, and blocks regulation of a third gene set. Hic-5 inhibits GR binding to blocked genes but not other glucocorticoid-regulated genes. Site-specific blocking of GR binding is due to gene-specific requirements for ATP-dependent chromatin remodeling enzymes. We investigate the effects of Hic-5 and dexamethasone on chromatin accessibility at GR binding sites near Hic-5 blocked genes and non-blocked genes. U2OS-GR⍺ cells were transfected with either siRNA for Hic-5 (siHic5) or control siRNA (siNS) and then treated with 1 hour of dexamethasone or ethanol as control.