Evidence map›Paper›PMID 33510302›Full record

ArticleScientific reports2021

Epigenetic silencing directs expression heterogeneity of stably integrated multi-transcript unit genetic circuits.

Jan Zimak, Zachary W Wagoner, Nellie Nelson, Brooke Waechtler, Hana Schlosser, Morgan Kopecky, Jie Wu, Weian Zhao

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Scientific reports, 2021. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 9 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
9citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

9 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Review
  2. Article
  3. Reversing transgene silencing via targeted chromatin editing.bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology · 2025
    Article
  4. Article
  5. Article
  6. Review
  7. Article
  8. Review
  9. Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

8 authors.

Jan Zimak *Sue and Bill Gross Stem Cell Research Center, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, 92697, USA.
Zachary W Wagoner *Sue and Bill Gross Stem Cell Research Center, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, 92697, USA.
Nellie NelsonSue and Bill Gross Stem Cell Research Center, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, 92697, USA.
Brooke WaechtlerSue and Bill Gross Stem Cell Research Center, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, 92697, USA.
Hana SchlosserSue and Bill Gross Stem Cell Research Center, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, 92697, USA.
Morgan KopeckySue and Bill Gross Stem Cell Research Center, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, 92697, USA.
Jie WuChao Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, 92697, USA.
Weian ZhaoSue and Bill Gross Stem Cell Research Center, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, 92697, USA. weianz@uci.edu.

Funding

Technology Development P2CHD086843 · NICHD · UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH AT PITTSBURGH · PI AMBROSIO, FABRISIA · 2015 to 2024
$10.5M
NRSA Training CoreTL1TR001415 · NCATS · UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA-IRVINE · PI CAIOZZO, VINCENT JAMES, HEAD, ELIZABETH · 2015 to 2023
$4.2M
Mechano-sensing stem cells to study, detect and treat cancer metastasesDP2CA195763 · NCI · UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA-IRVINE · PI ZHAO, WEIAN · 2014 to 2014
$2.3M
Mechano-Sensing CAR-T Cells for Solid Tumor MetastasesR21CA219225 · NCI · UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA-IRVINE · PI ZHAO, WEIAN · 2017 to 2018
$376k
NCATS NIH HHS TL1 TR001415NCI NIH HHS DP2 CA195763NCI NIH HHS R21 CA219225NICHD NIH HHS P2C HD086843
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

We report that epigenetic silencing causes the loss of function of multi-transcript unit constructs that are integrated using CRISPR-Cas9. Using a modular two color reporter system flanked by selection markers, we demonstrate that expression heterogeneity does not correlate with sequence alteration but instead correlates with chromosomal accessibility. We partially reverse this epigenetic silencing via small-molecule inhibitors of methylation and histone deacetylation. We then correlate each heterogeneously-expressing phenotype with its expected epigenetic state by employing ATAC-seq. The stability of each expression phenotype is reinforced by selective pressure, which indicates that ongoing epigenetic remodeling can occur for over one month after integration. Collectively, our data suggests that epigenetic silencing limits the utility of multi-transcript unit constructs that are integrated via double-strand repair pathways. Our research implies that mammalian synthetic biologists should consider localized epigenetic outcomes when designing complex genetic circuits.

Indexed as

Epigenesis, GeneticGene Expression RegulationGene Regulatory NetworksGene SilencingGenetic HeterogeneityDNA MethylationGene OrderGenetic Vectors

Identifiers

PMID33510302
PMCPMC7844226

What OpenQuestion holds

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.