R-loops regulate promoter-proximal chromatin architecture and cellular differentiation

Numerous chromatin-remodeling factors are regulated by interactions with RNA, although the contexts and functions of RNA binding are poorly understood. Here we show that R-loops, RNA:DNA hybrids consisting of nascent transcripts hybridized to template DNA, modulate the binding of two key chromatin regulatory complexes, Tip60–p400 and polycomb repressive complex 2 (PRC2) in mouse embryonic stem cells (ESCs). Like PRC2, the Tip60–p400 histone acetyltransferase complex binds to nascent transcripts, but unlike PRC2, transcription promotes chromatin binding by Tip60–p400. Interestingly, we observed higher Tip60–p400 and lower PRC2 levels at genes marked by promoter-proximal R-loops. Furthermore, disruption of R-loops broadly reduced Tip60–p400 and increased PRC2 occupancy genome-wide. Consistent with these alterations, ESCs with reduced R-loops exhibited impaired differentiation. These results show that R-loops act both positively and negatively to modulate the recruitment of key pluripotency regulators.