The hematopoietic master transcription factor PU.1 requires its interaction with the SWI/SNF remodeler to access chromatin de novo [ChIP-seq]

PU.1 is a prototype master transcription factor (TF) of hematopoietic cell differentiation with diverse roles in different lineages. Analysis of its genome-wide binding pattern across PU.1 expressing cell types revealed manifold cell type-specific binding patterns. They are not consistent with the epigenetic and chromatin constraints to PU.1 binding observed in vitro, suggesting that PU.1 requires auxiliary factors to access DNA in vivo. Using a model of transient mRNA expression we show that PU.1 induction leads to the extensive remodeling of chromatin, redistribution of partner transcription factors, and rapid initiation of a myeloid gene expression program in heterologous cell types. By probing mutant PU.1 variants for defects in chromatin access and screening for PU.1 proximal proteins in vivo, we found that its N-terminal acidic domain was required for the recruitment of SWI/SNF remodeling complexes, de novo chromatin access and stable binding as well as the redistribution of partner TFs. ChIP-seq data from cells transiently mRNA transfected with the transcription factor PU.1 and mutants thereof