GFI1 tethers the NuRD complex to open and transcriptionally active chromatin in myeloid progenitors

Abstract

GFI1 is a SNAG-domain, DNA binding transcriptional repressor which controls myeloid differentiation, in particular the formation of neutrophils. Here we show that GFI1 interacts with the chromodomain helicase CHD4 and other components of the "Nucleosome remodeling and deacetylase" (NuRD) complex. In granulo-monocytic precursors, GFI1, CHD4 or GFI1/CHD4 complexes occupy sites of open chromatin enriched for histone marks associated with active transcription suggesting that GFI1 recruits the NuRD complex to target genes that are regulated by active or bivalent promoters and active enhancers. Our data also show that GFI1 and GFI1/CHD4 complexes occupy promoters of different sets of genes that are either enriched for IRF1 or SPI-1 consensus sites, respectively. During neutrophil differentiation, overall chromatin closure and depletion of H3K4me2 occurs at different degrees depending on whether GFI1, CHD4 or both are present, indicating that GFI1 affects the chromatin remodeling activity of the NuRD complex. Moreover, GFI1/CHD4 complexes regulate chromatin openness and histone modifications differentially to enable regulation of target genes affecting the signaling pathways of the immune response or nucleosome organization or cellular metabolic processes.