ATAC-Seq Optimization for Cancer Epigenetics Research

Summary

ATAC-seq is a DNA sequencing method that uses the hyperactive mutant transposase, Tn5, to map changes in chromatin accessibility mediated by transcription factors. ATAC-seq enables the discovery of the molecular mechanisms underlying phenotypic alterations in cancer cells. This protocol outlines optimization procedures for ATAC-seq in epithelial cell types, including cancer cells.

Abstract

The assay for transposase-accessible chromatin with high-throughput sequencing (ATAC-seq) probes deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) accessibility using the hyperactive Tn5 transposase. Tn5 cuts and ligates adapters for high-throughput sequencing within accessible chromatin regions. In eukaryotic cells, genomic DNA is packaged into chromatin, a complex of DNA, histones, and other proteins, which acts as a physical barrier to the transcriptional machinery. In response to extrinsic signals, transcription factors recruit chromatin remodeling complexes to enable access to the transcriptional machinery for gene activation. Therefore, identifying open chromatin regions is useful when monitoring enhancer and gene promoter activities during biological events such as cancer progression. Since this protocol is easy to use and has a low cell input requirement, ATAC-seq has been widely adopted to define open chromatin regions in various cell types, including cancer cells. For successful data acquisition, several parameters need to be considered when preparing ATAC-seq libraries. Among them, the choice of cell lysis buffer, the titration of the Tn5 enzyme, and the starting volume of cells are crucial for ATAC-seq library preparation in cancer cells. Optimization is essential for generating high-quality data. Here, we provide a detailed description of the ATAC-seq optimization methods for epithelial cell types.

Introduction

Chromatin accessibility is a key requirement for the regulation of gene expression on a genome-wide scale¹. Changes in chromatin accessibility are frequently associated with several disease states, including cancer^2,3,4. Over the years, numerous techniques have been developed to enable researchers to probe the chromatin landscape by mapping regions of chromatin accessibility. Some of them include DNase-seq (DNase I hypersensitive sites sequencing)⁵, FAIRE-seq (formaldehyde-assisted isolation of regulatory elements)

Protocol

1. Preparations before beginning the experiment

1. Prepare lysis buffer stock.
   NOTE: The optimal nuclear isolation buffer can be different for each cell type. We recommend testing both the hypotonic buffer used in the original paper⁸ and a CSK buffer^12,13 for each cell type using trypan blue staining.
   1. To prepare hypotonic buffer (Greenleaf buffer), mix 10 mM Tris-HCl pH 7.4, 10 mM NaCl, 3 mM MgCl₂, and 0.1% NP-40.
   2. To prepare CSK buffer, mix 10 mM PIPES pH 6.8, 100 mM NaCl, 300 mM sucrose, 3 mM MgCl₂, and 0.1% ....

Results

To obtain successful and high-quality ATAC-seq data, it is important to optimize the experimental conditions. ATAC-seq library preparation can be separated into the five major steps (Figure 1), namely cell lysis, tagmentation (fragmentation and adapter insertion by Tn5), genomic DNA purification, PCR amplification, and data analysis. As an initial process, the cell lysis (nuclear isolation) buffer must be first optimized for each cell type. Either the hypotonic buffer described in the origin.......

Discussion

ATAC-seq has been widely used for mapping open and active chromatin regions. Cancer cell progression is frequently driven by genetic alterations and epigenetic reprogramming, resulting in altered chromatin accessibility and gene expression. An example of this reprogramming is seen during the epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and its reverse process, mesenchymal-to-epithelial transition (MET), which are known to be key cellular reprogramming processes during tumor metastasis³⁰. Another exa.......

Materials

Name	Company	Catalog Number	Comments
1.5 mL microcentrifuge tubes	USA Scientific	1615-5500	Natural
10 µL XL TipOne tips	USA Scientific	1120-3810	Filtered and low-retention
100 µL XL TipOne RPT tips	USA Scientific	1182-1830	Filtered and low-retention
100 µL XL TipOne tips	USA Scientific	1120-1840	Filtered and low-retention. Beveled Grade
15 mL Conical Centrifuge Tubes	Corning	352096
20 µL TipOne RPT tips	USA Scientific	1183-1810	Filtered and low-retention
200 µL TipOne RPT tips	USA Scientific	1180-8810	Filtered and low-retention
50 mL Centrifuge Tubes	Fisherbrand	06-443-19
Agarose	ThermoFisher Scientific	YBP136010	Genetic Analysis Grade
All the cell lines used in this study are obtained from ATCC	ATCC
Allegra X-30R Centrifuge	Beckman Coulter	364658	SX2415
AMPure XP beads	Beckman Coulter	A63881	Bead purification kit
CellDrop Cell Counter	DeNovix	CellDrop FL	Cell counter
EDTA	MilliporeSigma	EDS	BioUltra, anhydrous, ≥99% (titration)
EGTA	MilliporeSigma	E3889
Ethanol 100%	ThermoFisher Scientific	AC615100020	Anhydrous; Fisher Scientific - Decon Labs Sterilization Products
Fetal Bovine Serum - TET Tested	R&D Systems	S10350	Triple 0.1 µm filtered
Gibco DMEM 1x	ThermoFisher Scientific	11965092	[+] 4.5 g/L D-glucose; [+] L-Glutamine; [-] Sodium pyruvate
Gibco PBS 1x	ThermoFisher Scientific	10010023	pH 7.4
Gibco Trypsin-EDTA 1x	ThermoFisher Scientific	25200056	(0.25%), phenol red
Glycerol	IBI Scientific	56-81-5
Glycine	MilliporeSigma	G8898
HCl	MilliporeSigma	H1758
HEPES	MilliporeSigma	H3375
Invitrogen Qubit Fluorometer	ThermoFisher Scientific	Q32857
MgCl2	MilliporeSigma	M3634
MinElute PCR Purification kit	Qiagen	28004	DNA purification kit
NaCl	IBI Scientific	7647-14-5
NaOH	MilliporeSigma	S8045	BioXtra, ≥98% (acidimetric), pellets (anhydrous)
NEBNext High-Fidelity 2x PCR Master Mix	New England Biolabs	M0541
Nextera DNA Sample Preparation Kit	Illumina	FC-121-1030	2x TD and Tn5 Transposase
NP - 40 (IGEPAL CA-630)	MilliporeSigma	I8896	for molecular biology
PCR Detection System	BioRad	1855484	CFX384 Real-Time System. C1000 Touch Thermal Cycler
PIPES	MilliporeSigma	P1851	BioPerformance Certified, suitable for cell culture
Qubit dsDNA HS Assay kit	ThermoFisher Scientific	Q32854	Invitrogen; Nucleic acid quantitation kit
Quibit Assay Tubes	ThermoFisher Scientific	Q32856	Invitrogen
SDS	MilliporeSigma	L3771
Sodium Acetate	Homemade	-	pH 5.2
Sucrose	IBI Scientific	57-50-1
SYBR Gold	ThermoFisher Scientific	S11494
SYBR Green Supermix, 1.25 mL	BioRad	1708882
T100 Thermal Cycler	BioRad	1861096
TempAssure 0.2 mL PCR 8-Tube Strips	USA Scientific	1402-4700	Flex-free, natural, polypropylene
TempPlate 384-WELL PCR PLATE	USA Scientific	1438-4700	Single notch. Natural polypropylene
Tris Base	MilliporeSigma	648311	ULTROL Grade
Triton x-100	IBI Scientific	9002-93-1
TrueSeq Dual Index Sequencing Primer Kit	Illumina	PE-121-1003	paired-end
Trypan Blue Stain	ThermoFisher Scientific	Q32851
Tween-20	MilliporeSigma	P7949	BioXtra, viscous liquid
Water	MilliporeSigma	W3500	sterile-filtered, BioReagent, suitable for cell culture