BET bromodomain proteins regulate enhancer function during adipogenesis

Developmental transitions are guided by master regulatory transcription factors. During adipogenesis, a transcriptional cascade culminates in expression of PPARg and C/EBPa, which orchestrate activation of the adipocyte gene expression program. However, the coactivators controlling PPARg and C/EBPa expression are less well characterized. Here we show the bromodomain-containing protein, BRD4, regulates transcription of PPARg and C/EBPa. Analysis of BRD4 chromatin occupancy reveals that induction of adipogenesis in 3T3L1 fibroblasts provokes dynamic redistribution of BRD4 to de novo super enhancers proximal to genes controlling adipocyte differentiation. BET bromodomain inhibition impedes BRD4 occupancy at these de novo enhancers and disrupts transcription of Pparg and Cebpa, thereby blocking adipogenesis. Furthermore, silencing of these BRD4-occupied distal regulatory elements at the Pparg locus by CRISPRi demonstrates a critical role for these enhancers in the control of Pparg gene expression and adipogenesis in 3T3L1s. Together, these data establish BET bromodomain proteins as time- and context-dependent coactivators of the adipocyte cell state transition. BRD4 and RNA Pol2 ChIP-Seq and corresponsing whole cell extract controls in 3T3L1 fibroblasts undergoing adipogenic differentiation in the presence of JQ1