Transcriptome and chromatin accessiblity analysis of mice soft palate to unreveal the role of Runx2 in regulating palate muscle development.

We report the application of single cell transcriptome, bulk transcriptome, and chromatin accessibility analysis for investigating the role of Runx2 in regulating soft palate muscle development. By isolating single cells from soft palate tissue of wild type embryos at E13.5, E14.5 and E15.5, we describe the heterogeneity of soft palate mesenchyme during development by analyzing single cell transcriptome. Combined analysis of bulk and single cell transcriptome of soft palate from wild type and Runx2 mutant suggests Runx2 activate expression of perimysial markers. Finally, we show that Runx2 activates expression of perimysial markers probably by repressing Twist1 through chromatin accessibility analysis. This study provides the first single cell level heterogeneity analysis of developing soft palate and shows the important role of Runx2 in regulating soft palate muscle development. Overall design: Transcriptome and chromatin accessiblity profiling of developing mouse soft palate