H4K16ac activates retrotransposons and contributes to their cis regulatory function [RNA-seq]

Mammalian genomes harbour a large number of transposable elements (TEs) and their remnants. Most TEs are incapable of retrotransposition, however, they have evolved as cis-regulatory elements (CREs), enabling them to recruit host-encoded factors. Understanding the contribution of TEs in the regulation of the mammalian genome is an active area of research. Here we show that the male-specific lethal (MSL) complex-mediated acetylation of histone H4 lysine 16 (H4K16ac) regulates the transcription of TEs. Furthermore, H4K16ac marked TEs function as a rich source of cis regulatory elements in the human genome, wherein H4K16ac acts by maintaining the permissive chromatin structure and promoting the transcription of these TEs. RNA-sequencing (RNA-Seq) for H9 hPSCs stable cell lines expressing non-targeting shRNA (control/Scr.) and MSL3 knockdown (KD, two independent shRNAs). Each sample was processed in four biological replicates.