The genetic architecture of DNA replication timing in human pluripotent stem cells

Qiliang Ding, Matthew M. Edwards, Ning Wang, Xiang Zhu, Alexa N. Bracci, Michelle L. Hulke, Ya Hu, Yao Tong, Joyce Hsiao, Christine J. Charvet, Sulagna Ghosh, Robert E. Handsaker, Kevin Eggan, Florian T. Merkle, Jeannine Gerhardt, Dieter Egli, Andrew G. Clark, Amnon Koren

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

20 Scopus citations

Abstract

DNA replication follows a strict spatiotemporal program that intersects with chromatin structure but has a poorly understood genetic basis. To systematically identify genetic regulators of replication timing, we exploited inter-individual variation in human pluripotent stem cells from 349 individuals. We show that the human genome’s replication program is broadly encoded in DNA and identify 1,617 cis-acting replication timing quantitative trait loci (rtQTLs) – sequence determinants of replication initiation. rtQTLs function individually, or in combinations of proximal and distal regulators, and are enriched at sites of histone H3 trimethylation of lysines 4, 9, and 36 together with histone hyperacetylation. H3 trimethylation marks are individually repressive yet synergistically associate with early replication. We identify pluripotency-related transcription factors and boundary elements as positive and negative regulators of replication timing, respectively. Taken together, human replication timing is controlled by a multi-layered mechanism with dozens of effectors working combinatorially and following principles analogous to transcription regulation.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Article number6746
JournalNature communications
Volume12
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - Dec 2021

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • General Chemistry
  • General Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology
  • General Physics and Astronomy

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