TINC - a method to dissect transcriptional complexes at single locus resolution - reveals novel Nanog regulators in mouse embryonic stem cells

We developed a novel epigenetic method termed TINC: TALE-mediated Isolation of Nuclear Chromatin. Using TINC we interrogated the protein complex formed at the Nanog promoter in embryonic stem cells (ESCs) and identified many known interactors as well as numerous previously unknown complex members, including RCOR2. Further interrogation of the role of RCOR2 in the ESC network revealed its involvement in the repression of lineage genes and the fine-tuning of pluripotency genes. Consequently, using the Nanog promoter as a paradigm, we demonstrated the power of TINC to provide important insights into the molecular makeup of transcriptional complexes at individual REs as well as into control of cellular identity in general. Overall design: Single locus interrogation of the protein complex formed at the Nanog promoter using TINC, the RCOR2 binding profile in ESCs, and mRNA profiles in Rcor2 KO and WT ESCs.