Generation and characterization of a knock-in allele of EKLF: Probing the in vivo role of the chromatin remodeling domain in definitive hematopoietic cells

The zinc finger-encoding transacting factor EKLF, or erythroid Krüppel-like factor, binds key regulatory elements of many erythroid-specific genes, and is essential for definitive erythropoiesis. Mice lacking this factor die of anemia by E15.5 of gestation, failing to activate β-globin gene transcription, and demonstrating a block in the erythroid differentiation program at the primitive erythroblast stage. In contrast, megakaryocytic progenitors are amplified in EKLF-null embryos, with increased Fli-1 gene expression, a marker of early megakaryocytic differentiation. These observations are consistent with the idea that EKLF modulates the megakaryocytic-erythroid (M-E) differentiation switch. Our laboratory has previously demonstrated that an amino terminal sequence of EKLF (Δ221EKLF) is required to induce chromatin remodeling at the β-globin promoter in an EKLF-null erythroid cell line. However, additional amino terminal sequences are required for initiation of β-globin gene transcription. To evaluate the role of this chromatin remodeling domain in erythroid and megakaryocytic differentiation in vivo, I have generated a knock-in allele of Δ221EKLF. Using the recombineering method, a lambda phage-based homolgous recombination method in E. coli, cDNA encoding the Δ221EKLF domain has been inserted into the endogenous initiation site, thus placing the mutant protein under the cis-regulatory elements of the endogenous murine EKLF locus. Subsequently, Δ221EKLF alleles have been generated by gene targeting in ES cells. I have used the mice to probe the in vivo role of Δ221EKLF in definitive hematopoietic cells. Similar to EKLF-null embryos, mice homozygous for the Δ221EKLF mutant allele die of anemia by E15.5 of gestation. Molecular analysis of Δ221EKLF erythroblasts reveals i) a failure to activate β-globin gene transcription; ii) lack of GATA1 and NF-E2 recruitment to the β-globin promoter; iii) a block in terminal erythroid differentiation. In contrast to erythroid cells lacking EKLF, Δ221EKLF erythroid progenitors demonstrate appropriate binding of the Δ221EKLF encoding domain to all EKLF-regulatory sequences and a chromatin architecture and histone modification pattern at erythroid-specific genes that recapitulate the events observed in wild-type EKLF erythroblasts at a similar stage of erythroid ontogeny. Examining the role of Δ221EKLF in megakaryopoiesis, I observed inhibition of megakaryocytic progenitor expansion in Δ221EKLF fetal hematopoietic cell populations when compared to EKLF-null embryos. Molecular analysis of Δ221EKLF erythroblasts reveals i) binding of the Δ221EKLF mutant protein to the Fli-1 promoter with inhibition of gene transcription; ii) hypoacetylation of histone H3 at the Fli-1 promoter; iii) recruitment of a Sin3A-containing corepressor complex to the Fli-1 promoter. Taken together, my results suggest strongly that the unique Δ221EKLF domain is sufficient to modulate the chromatin-specific roles of EKLF at erythroidand megakaryocytic-specific loci in definitive hematopoietic cells in vivo.