Gene expression analysis to identify Mef2c/d target genes in B-cell progenitors

The sequential activation of distinct developmental gene networks governs the ultimate identity of a cell, but the mechanisms by which downstream programs are activated are incompletely understood. The preB-cell receptor (preBCR) is an important checkpoint of B-cell development and essential for a preB-cell to traverse into an immature B-cell. Here, we show that activation of Mef2 transcription factors by preBCR is necessary for initiating the subsequent genetic network. We demonstrate that B-cell development is blocked at the preB-cell stage in mice deficient for Mef2c and Mef2d transcription factors and that preBCR signaling enhances the transcriptional activity of Mef2c/d through phosphorylation by the ERK5 mitogen activating kinase. This activation is instrumental in inducing Krüppel-like factor 2 and several immediate early genes of the AP1 and Egr family. Finally, we show that Mef2 proteins cooperate with the products of their target genes (Irf4 and Egr2) to induce secondary waves of transcriptional regulation. Our findings uncover a novel role for Mef2c/d in coordinating the transcriptional network that promotes early B-cell development. Overall design: RNA-seq experiments were performed from Mef2c/d knockout proB-cells versus control cells to identify genes regulated by Klf2