DNA Dioxygenases Tet2/3 Regulate Gene Promoter Accessibility and Three-Dimensional Chromatin Topology in Lineage-Specific Loci to Control Hair Growth
TLDR Tet2 and Tet3 enzymes are essential for controlling hair growth by affecting DNA demethylation and gene expression in mice.
The study investigates the role of Tet2 and Tet3 enzymes in regulating gene expression and chromatin structure in hair follicle epithelial cells. By ablating Tet genes in skin epithelial cells of mice, researchers found that these enzymes are crucial for controlling the expression of Keratin type I/II genes, which are essential for hair-specific differentiation. Mice lacking Tet2/Tet3 exhibited significant changes in hair shape and length, leading to hair loss. Tet2 and Tet3 were shown to regulate chromatin accessibility, Dlx3 binding, and promoter activity of the Krt25 and Krt28 genes, which are important for hair shape. Additionally, Tet2/3 influence three-dimensional chromatin topology through mechanisms independent of their catalytic activity. This research highlights the essential roles of Tet2/3 in hair growth and suggests that modulating DNA methylation could be a novel approach for controlling hair growth.
