ATRX histone binding and helicase activities have distinct roles in neuronal differentiation

We have identified the distinct effects on neuronal differentiation of two different mutations of ATRX. We generated E14 mouse embryonic stem cell lines with mutations in the histone binding domain of ATRX (PHDmut) or in the helicase domain (K1584R). Neurodifferentiation is both delayed and compromised in PHDmut and K1584R, and manifest differently from complete ATRX loss. We performed ATRX ChIP-seq which showed changes in occupancy of ATRX in PHDmut and K1584R. Our CUT&RUN and RNA-Seq reveal that mutations or deficiency of ATRX result in separate patterns of dysregulation in gene expression and PRC2 binding, suggesting different roles of each ATRX domain in neuronal differentiation Overall design: CUT&RUN, ChIP, and RNA-Seq was performed on E14 mouse embryonic stem cells (mESCs) and on mESCs differentiated to neural progenitor cells.