Genome-wide characterization of Six1 binding in embryo and cochlea

Six1 is a critical transcription factor for specifying cell fates in multiple organs and shares common DNA-binding sites with Six2/4/5. However, its molecular function in defining the specificity of Six1-DNA interactions and in instructing cell fates is poorly understood. We performed Six1 ChIP-seq analyses in E10.5 mouse embryos and E13.5 cochleae to map genome-wide CRMs through which Six1 and its interacting TFs function in a combinatorial fashion to control the network of gene regulation necessary for proper development. Genome-wide characterization has identified a robust set of Six1 targets in embryos and auditory sensory epithelium, including genes participating in Wnt/Notch/Shh/Fgf signaling pathways and regulators critical for auditory hair cell formation. Our data provide insights into how Six1 acts in multiple regulatory networks operating in distinct cell types at different stages. Genome-wide Six1 binding feature was characterized in whole embryo and cochlea using ChIP-seq.