Rbpj direct regulation of Atoh7 transcription in the embryonic mouse retina

<jats:title>Abstract</jats:title><jats:p>In vertebrate retinal progenitor cells, the proneural factor <jats:italic>Atoh7</jats:italic> exhibits a dynamic tissue and cellular expression pattern. Although the resulting <jats:italic>Atoh7</jats:italic> retinal lineage contains all seven major cell types, only retinal ganglion cells require <jats:italic>Atoh7</jats:italic> for proper differentiation. Such specificity necessitates complex regulation of <jats:italic>Atoh7</jats:italic> transcription during retina development. The Notch signaling pathway is an evolutionarily conserved suppressor of proneural bHLH factor expression. Previous <jats:italic>in vivo</jats:italic> mouse genetic studies established the cell autonomous suppression of <jats:italic>Atoh7</jats:italic> transcription by <jats:italic>Notch1</jats:italic>, <jats:italic>Rbpj</jats:italic> and <jats:italic>Hes1</jats:italic>. Here we identify four CSL binding sites within the <jats:italic>Atoh7</jats:italic> proximal regulatory region and demonstrate Rbpj protein interaction at these sequences by <jats:italic>in vitro</jats:italic> electromobility shift, calorimetry and luciferase assays and, <jats:italic>in vivo</jats:italic> via colocalization and chromatin immunoprecipitation. We found that Rbpj simultaneously represses <jats:italic>Atoh7 t</jats:italic>ranscription using both Notch-dependent and –independent pathways.</jats:p>

section_content: Recombination Signal Binding Protein for immunoglobulin kappa J region) in human/mouse, Su(H) (Suppressor of Hairless) in Drosophila, Lag-1 (lin12 and glp-1 phenotype) in C. elegans) and the Maml (Mastermind-like) co-activating factor. This protein complex activates downstream target gene transcription by binding to a variety of CSL sites within noncoding DNA [13] [14] [15] [16]. Well-characterized effector genes of the Notch pathway include the Hes (Hairy/Enhancer of Split (E(Spl)) and Hey gene families, which encode transcriptional repressor proteins [17] [18] [19]. Intriguingly, during Drosophila retinal development, Notch signaling reiteratively regulates Atonal transcription 20, 21. In undifferentiated cells anterior to the eye disc morphogenetic furrow (a moving differentiation boundary), Notch signaling activates Atonal in a continuous stripe of cells. But more posteriorly, the Notch complex, via E(Spl) activity, suppresses Atonal expression in cells adopting non-R8 photoreceptor fates. This latter activity embodies the classic neurogenic role of Notch signaling. Importantly, these phases of Atonal regulation are separated in both time and space, and utilize distinct Atonal enhancers, as reviewed in 22. 

Predicted CSL binding sites are interspersed throughout metazoan genomes, but it is challenging to know which are in vivo targets. However, the probability of any gene being a direct target is enhanced when its expression is affected by Notch pathway loss-and gain-of-function mutants. Previous examinations of mouse retinal mutants showed that loss of Notch1, Rbpj or Hes1 derepresses Atoh7 mRNA expression and RGC neurogenesis [23] [24] [25] [26] [27] [28] [29]. By contrast, overexpression of activated Notch1 (NICD1) stimulates proliferation, thereby blocking Atoh7 LacZ expression and RGC formation 26, 30. Yet, the mechanism(s) underlying Notch pathway regulation of Atoh7 remain unresolved. 

A classical view of Notch regulation of bHLH factors holds that an activated Notch protein complex transcriptionally activates Hes1, which in turn would repress Atoh7 transcription. But, other models are possible, including Rbpj direct regulation of Atoh7, either in a corepressor complex (repression), or in a Notch complex (activation) 21, 31, 32. However, all genetic data consistently support Rbpj suppression of Atoh7 transcription. In this study, we characterize four CSL binding sites situated in Atoh7 5′ regulatory DNA. We found that at the peak of Atoh7 retinal expression, Rbpj occupies one CSL site, R3 within the distal primary enhancer, and this binding site mediates transcriptional repression. We also discovered that simultaneous loss of all four binding sites reduced Atoh7 transcription, suggesting a distinct mode of Rbpj regulation, consistent with locus priming for efficient transcriptional regulation by other factors 33. Importantly, both Rbpj-mediated repression at site R3, and activation via multiple sites are Notch-independent, although Notch1/3 signaling has a measurable impact on Atoh7 mRNA levels. Overall our data are suggestive of three separate, yet simultaneous modes of Rbpj regulation: locus priming, direct repression and canonical Notch pathway suppression. We propose that integrated regulatory inputs are important for precise control of Atoh7 pulsatile expression in the developing retina.

section_content: Predicted Rbpj binding sites in Atoh7 regulatory DNA. The goal of this study was to identify and test putative Rbpj consensus (CSL) binding sites relative to Atoh7 transcriptional activity. Because the Atoh7 primary enhancer recapitulates endogenous mRNA expression in frog, chick, zebrafish and mouse transgenic studies, and contains two CNEs, it was the strongest candidate to contain CSL binding sites 8, 10, 11, 34. However, we used the CSL consensus TRANSFAC MATCH algorithm (5′-[C/T]GTG[G/T]GAA-3′) to perform an unbiased search of 6 Kb of noncoding DNA surrounding the Atoh7 coding exon [13] [14] [15]. Four putative CSL sites (termed R1-R4) were identified; all positioned 5′ to the ATG codon (Fig. 1A ). Three of these sites (R2-R4) reside in the primary enhancer CNEs, while the other site (R1) is 300 bp upstream of the primary enhancer (Fig. 1A, B ). Of the four sites, R1, R3, and R4 are highly conserved between mouse and human (Fig. 1B ), with only R3 and R4 having analogous sequences in the chick and frog Atoh7/Ath5 locus (not shown). Interestingly, site R3 is situated in between previously characterized Pax6 and Neurog2 (E4/E3) binding sites (Fig. 1A,B) 8, 10, 11. Site R4 lies within the proximal CNE, very close to the TATAA box and two highly conserved Ebox binding sites (Fig. 1A, B ). In the adult frog retina, this CNE is critical for maintaining Atoh7/Ath5 expression in the ciliary marginal zone 8.
section_name: Results

section_content: Both commercial and academic laboratory-made antibodies have been generated for detecting mammalian Rbpj or Atoh7 proteins. In a separate project, we rigorously tested a polyclonal antibody with high specificity for human and mouse Atoh7 proteins 35. Previously, a rat anti-Rbpj antibody was used in our exploration of Notch signaling during mouse lens development 36, 37. Here we further confirmed the specificity of this monoclonal antibody, during mouse retinogenesis, and evaluated its usefulness in biochemical assays (Fig. 2 ). We immunolabeled E13. 5 retinal cryosections from α-Cre;Z/EG;Rbpj CK °/+ control and α-Cre;Z/EG;Rbpj CKO/CKO mutant embryos (Fig. 2A, B ). The α-Cre transgene induces Cre-mediated recombination in the distal retina 38 and Cre-mediated recombination is permanently marked by GFP expression from the Z/EG transgene 39. In α-Cre;Z/EG;Rbpj CKO/+ controls, Rbpj protein is ubiquitous, including within the Cre lineage (GFP+ cells) (Fig. 2A ). However, the same α-Cre cells lacking Rbpj showed a cell autonomous loss of protein expression (Fig. 2B ). We also used this antibody for Western blotting, using denatured protein extracts from genotyped and pooled embryonic lenses, including from Rbpj conditional mutants 40, 41. A single immunoreactive band of 56 kDa was recognized in the wild type and heterozygous western lanes, but completely missing from homozygous mutant lens extracts (Fig. 2C ). 

Next, we compared Atoh7 and Rbpj protein expression during in vivo embryonic retinal development. The spatiotemporal expression pattern of Atoh7 protein is highly dynamic, restricted to the central optic cup at E11. 5 (Fig. 3A ), but expressed by a broader group of E13. 5 RPCs (Fig. 3B ), and then confined to the periphery by E16. 5 (Fig. 3C ). Because Rbpj expression is ubiquitous, complete coexpression was expected. However, we noted that at every age almost all Atoh7+ cells exhibit brighter Rbpj expression than the Atoh7-negative cells. This is suggestive of differential Rbpj protein expression, although immunohistochemistry is a nonquantitative technique. To rule out non-specific secondary antibody cross-reactivity, we performed control experiments on retinal sections that were incubated with only one primary antibody (rabbit anti-Atoh7 or rat anti-Rbpj), prior to simultaneous application of both secondary antibodies (Fig. S1 ).
section_name: Rbpj and Atoh7 antibody validation and protein colocalization.

section_content: For initial assessment of Rbpj binding to the four putative CSL sites, we conducted in vitro electromobility shift assays (EMSA), using bacterially expressed and purified mouse Rbpj protein (residues 53-474), previously shown to bind DNA 42. Rbpj protein was incubated with biotin-labeled double stranded oligonucleotides, in which the putative binding site is centrally located (Fig. 4A, Supplemental Table S4 ). We noted that all four sites shifted upon incubation with Rbpj protein (Fig. 4A ). When key nucleotides within each CSL site were mutated, based on previous CSL-DNA structural studies, binding was abolished. We conclude that Rbpj protein specifically binds to each CSL binding site in vitro. 

We also performed isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC) to quantitate binding, using purified Rbpj with the oligomeric DNA duplexes that correspond to the four putative CSL binding sites (Fig. 4B-F and Supplemental Table S5 ). As positive and negative controls, we tested Rbpj with the CSL binding site from the Hes1 proximal promoter element (GTTACTGTGGGAAAGAAAG) and the non-specific sequence (GCTACTCATACCTAGAACG), respectively, and detected binding from the Hes1 site (~1 μM K d ), but did not detect binding from the non-specific site (data not shown). The results showed Rbpj bound to three of the four putative CSL sites with comparable affinity to the well-characterized Hes1 site (Fig. 4B ) 43. However, we found that one consensus site, R3, displayed a lower binding affinity (Fig. 4E ). While we were unable to separate any potential effects of nucleotide variation and flanking sequence, interestingly, R3 lies in between validated Pax6 and Neurog2 binding sites 10, 11. 

Next, we wished to determine which CSL consensus sites are occupied by Rbpj during in vivo retinal development. Previously we demonstrated that Pax6 occupies consensus site J in the human ATOH7 gene, using chromatin from Ad12Her10 retinal cell line 10. As a positive control, we performed Pax6 ChIP in parallel here, using mouse E14. 5 retinal chromatin. This age was selected because it is the peak of Atoh7 expression 44. Dissected retinas from individual embryonic litters were pooled and frozen en masse (n = 3 litters). After lysis, cross-linking, quantification and sheering, chromatin was immunoprecipitated with rat anti-Rbpj, rabbit anti-Pax6 or relevant IgG controls (see Methods). The antibody-bound chromatin complexes were purified, crosslinks reversed, and the isolated genomic DNA used as a template for real-time PCR. Each primer set amplified an amplicon specific for each putative binding site (Fig. 5A, Supplemental Table S4 ). As expected, Pax6 occupies site J in the Atoh7 primary enhancer (Fig. 5C ). Although there was measurable occupancy of Rbpj at all four sites (R1-R4) relative to 3′UTR, only site R3 shows statistically significant enrichment (Fig. 5B ). We conclude that Rbpj directly regulates Atoh7 transcription, via site R3. Although occupancy of the other three sites at E14. 5 was not statistically significant, we hypothesized there could be more robust enrichment at other developmental ages, or that Rbpj simultaneous occupancy of multiple sites might contribute to a local Atoh7 chromatin configuration 33.
section_name: Rbpj binding to Atoh7 5′ regulatory DNA in vitro and in vivo.

section_content: and at least site R3 in vivo, it is unclear if it does so via the Notch complex (activation), or a corepressor complex (repression). To address these possibilities formally we used luciferase reporter assays to measure the activity and requirement for each site individually, versus simultaneous mutation of all 4 sites, within a previously identified primary gene Atoh7 enhancer 7, 10. However, first we compared Atoh7 primary gene enhancer expression to that of the endogenous protein, which had not been previously reported 8, 10, 11, 34, 45, 46. For this we created a transgenic construct with 2. 4Kb of mouse Atoh7 5′ DNA joined to a minimal human β-globin promoter (BG) and red fluorescent monomeric Cherry reporter (mCherry) 47. We then used antibody colabeling to evaluate mCherry expression in retinal cryosections from E13. 5 transient transgenic embryos. We found that endogenous Atoh7 significantly overlaps with Cherry+ cells (Fig. 6A ) in the proliferative neuroblast layer, but not in the differentiated ganglion cell layer (GCL). This difference can be attributed to the greater stability of the fluorophore protein compared to Atoh7. Coexpression here was roughly equivalent to what was previously reported for another mouse transgenic line in which the human ATOH7 shadow enhancer drives BG-mCherry expression 7, 35. 

Next, we performed luciferase assays in both HEK293T kidney-derived and AD12Her10 retinal-derived human cell lines, under identical conditions 48, 49. This strategy was chosen because our previous study of Pax6 regulation of Atoh7 transcription suggested that retinal-specific context influences assay output 10. Yet we found no differences between these cell lines, although HEK293T cells endogenously express RBPJ, but not ATOH7 50, 51, whereas AD12Her10 cells express both genes (Supplemental Fig. S2 ). Individual CSL site mutations (ΔR1, ΔR2, or ΔR4) did not affect transcriptional output, relative to wild type (Fig. 6A ). By contrast, our mutation of CSL site R3 (ΔR3) derepressed luciferase activity over wild type levels, in both HEK293T and AD12Her10 cells, in the absence of exogenous Notch intracellular domains (Fig. 6A, Supplemental Fig. S2 ). We concluded that this particular binding site normally represses Atoh7 transcription. By contrast, when all four sites (ΔR1-4) were simultaneously mutated, there was a significant decrease in Atoh7 transcriptional levels (Fig. 6B, Supplemental Fig. 2 ). This is suggestive of coordinated, Rbpj-mediated transcriptional activation, among multiple (possibly all four) binding sites. 

Rbpj occupancy of site R3 represses Atoh7, presumably reflecting corepressor complex activity. However, the coordinated enhancement via multiple sites might be attributable to direct regulation of Atoh7 transcription, via a Notch complex. Therefore, we tested for Notch-dependence by coexpressing the intracellular domains of Notch1 (NICD1) or Notch3 (NICD3) in our luciferase assays. Each receptor alone, as well as in combination, was previously shown to be required in vivo for particular aspects of Atoh7 expression 26. Plasmids containing the NICD1, NICD3, or a mixture of the two, were cotransfected with either the Atoh7 wild type or ΔR1-R4 mutant luciferase constructs 52, 53. Increasing NICD1 levels stimulated Atoh7 transcription but had no impact on the ΔR1-R4 mutant (Fig. 6B ). NICD3 or NICD1 + NICD3 coexpression did not affect wild type Atoh7 activity, but further suppressed transcription in the ΔR1-R4 mutant (Fig. 6B ). We interpret these outcomes to mean that multiple CSL binding sites help maintain Atoh7 basal level transcription. The elevated luciferase activity seen after NICD1 overexpression might represent Notch-dependent regulation of sites R1, R2, and R4, or an ectopic effect of NICD1 acting as a Rbpj sink, de-repressing R3 similar to R3 mutagenesis. In addition, Notch-mediated regulation of Atoh7 must utilize other noncoding sequences based on the decrease of transcriptional activity with NICD3 overexpression, potentially through Hes consensus N-boxes 16, 43, 54, 55. 

Multiple mammalian "co-repressor" genes encode proteins that interact with Rbpj via CSL binding sites 56. These genes are unrelated at the primary sequence level, but predicted to link Rbpj to HDAC machinery, and include Smrt/Ncor2, Spen/Mint/Sharp, Fhl1b//KyoT2, Rita, Skip, L3mbtl3 and Kdm1a/Lsd1 [57] [58] [59]. Interestingly, Kdm1a/Lsd1 is expressed in the retina from E17-P15, and its pharmacologic inhibition in retinal explants induced an upregulation of bHLH factor expression 60. Because nothing further is known about the retinal expression other Rbpj co-repressor genes, we used RT-PCR to test for transcription of four genes (Spen; Fhl1b; L3mbtl3; Kdm1a) in the E13. 5 mouse retina (Fig. 6C ). The Fhll/KyoT gene encodes multiple splice products, so we assayed for one exon common to all splice variants, as well as specific Fhl1b and Fhl1c exons that uniquely contain Rbpj-interaction domains [61] [62] [63]. We found that all of these co-repressor mRNAs are expressed during embryonic retinal neurogenesis (Fig. 6C ). Given that at least four of seven putative co-repressors are present in the mammalian retina, elucidation of their specific mechanisms of action will require in-depth, future studies.
section_name: Rbpj differentially regulates Atoh7 transcription. Although Rbpj binds to all four CSL sites in vitro

section_content: Previous studies of Notch signaling in the vertebrate retina genetically linked Rbpj activity to Atoh7 expression and retinal ganglion cell differentiation [24] [25] [26] [27] [28] [29]. Notch activity normally suppresses both Atoh7 and RGC neurogenesis, but the molecular mechanisms for this remain unresolved. Here, we explored the possibility that Rbpj can directly regulate Atoh7 transcription. 

Bioinformatic analysis of noncoding sequences surrounding the mouse Atoh7 gene identified four putative Rbpj-CSL consensus binding sites. While a CSL consensus sequence is useful for predicting Rbpj target genes [13] [14] [15], it is not the only nucleotide motif this protein can bind 16, 43. One particular binding site arrangement, called SPS (Su(H)-paired site), consists of two CSL binding sites in a head to head configuration separated by ~16 nucleotides 64. These SPS elements are occupied by dimeric NICD/Rbpj complexes, to regulate transcription [65] [66] [67] [68]. Although the Atoh7 upstream CSL binding sites lack a canonical SPS arrangement, there remains some possibility for such a mechanism, since a cryptic CSL element in the Hes5 promoter acts in a dimeric SPS complex 65. 

Among the CSL sites analyzed here for the embryonic retina, R3 stands out as unique. Counterintuitively, CSL has the weakest affinity for R3 in vitro, but was the only site that ChIPped CSL in vivo with statistical significance. Similar phenomenon has been observed for Su(H), the fly CSL ortholog, binding of the sparkled (spa) enhancer in Drosophila, whereby the low affinity Su(H) sites are critical for proper gene expression and patterning driven by spa 69. The location of R3 within the distal CNE is flanked by a Neurog2-dependent Ebox (30 bp upstream) and a Pax6 binding site (20 bp downstream). Such spacing allows one or two helical turns to separate each of these sites. In the developing pancreas, this same distance is permissive for Rbpj physical interaction with the bHLH transcription factor Ptf1a 70. Interestingly, Ptf1a is also expressed in the developing retina and influences neurogenesis of several retinal cell types [71] [72] [73]. In Drosophila and Xenopus there are other examples of CSL/Rbpj protein interactions with bHLH factors that activate transcription 66, 74, 75. Hence, we cannot discount the possibility that Neurog2 (or another bHLH factor) may physically interact with Rbpj. Alternatively, Rbpj occupancy of site R3 might affect local chromatin architecture, thereby displacing activating factors. Because we detected both Rbpj and Pax6 occupancy in E14. 5 retinal chromatin (within the same preparation), a mutually exclusive binding mechanism would seem implausible. One caveat was the use of whole retina chromatin, which could obscure distinct configurations of transcription factor binding at the Atoh7 primary enhancer, among a heterogenic population of retinal cells. For example, in mitotically-active RPCs that do not express Atoh7, Rbpj could act as a repressor at site R3. When these cells enter their terminal mitosis, they may activate Atoh7 expression, via Pax6 or Neurog2 binding, which would also displace nearby Rbpj-corepressor complexes. Conversely, during terminal differentiation, this relationship could be reversed, with Rbpj-corepressor binding at site R3 dislodging either Pax6 or Neurog2. Only the generation of single-cell genomic datasets can map the occupancy of particular enhancer binding site to the developmental status of cells, at distinct stages of retinogenesis. 

Here we also provided some insight into in vivo context for our biochemical data, via direct comparison of Rbpj and Atoh7 protein expression patterns. Rbpj is well established as ubiquitously expressed, so co-localization with Atoh7 protein was already predicted. But, transcription factors that are coexpressed with their target genes typically activate transcription, not repress it. Indeed, Hes1, a known repressor of neurogenesis, displays mutually exclusive expression with βgal in Atoh7 LacZ/+ eyes 26. Yet, our transcriptional activity data clearly indicate that Rbpj repression of Atoh7 is the major mode of regulation, which correlates with all previous genetic findings 25, 29. However, we also note that Rbpj does not appear uniformly expressed, with brighter anti-Rbpj labeling coinciding with Atoh7 expression. The significance of this observation remains unclear. Better understanding will Distinct PCR primers for the Fhl1 (KyoT) gene were used that amplified an exon common to all splice products (pan Fhl1), and the specific splice variants Fhl1b (KyoT3) and Fhl1c (KyoT2) that uniquely contain the Rbpjinteraction domain 78. All PCR reactions were run on a single gel, uncropped image provided in Supplemental require the determination of which Rbpj regulation activities at work during distinct stages of retinal cell development. Moreover, we must clarify whether Notch1/3 signaling invokes canonical pathway regulation, namely Notch-Rbpj-Maml binding to Hes gene promoters, which may in turn directly repress Atoh7 transcription. 

While highly speculative, we propose that lower levels of Rbpj protein expression are sufficient for binding to multiple CSL sites, which contributes to keeping the Atoh7 locus open and primed (yet transcriptionally silent) 33, until its rapid, pulsatile expression is needed. Higher levels of Rbpj protein may subsequently be required to also engage in the activities of Notch and co-repressor complexes, which act at different regulatory sequences, and possibly at different rates to shut down Atoh7 transcription. Clearly additional transcription factors must simultaneously regulate Atoh7 (positively or negatively) since brighter-labeled Rbpj cells are capable of Atoh7 co-expression. The integration of these multiple modes of regulation allows for more precise modulation of target gene mRNA levels, particularly during highly dynamic developmental processes.
section_name: Discussion

section_content: Ethics Statement. All mice were housed and cared for in accordance with the guidelines provided by the National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, and the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology, and conducted with approval and oversight from the Cincinnati Children's Hospital Research Foundation and UC Davis Institutional Animal Care and Use Committees.
section_name: Experimental Methods

section_content: A Rbpj tm1Hon conditional allele (termed Rbpj CKO ) were maintained on a 129/SvJ background and genotyped as described 41. α-Cre transgenic mice were maintained on a CD-1 background and genotyped as described 38. Le-Cre mice were maintained on an FVB/N background and genotyped as described 40. Z/EG lineage tracing mice (Tg(CAG-Bgeo/GFP)21Lb3/J) use the CMV enhancer/chicken actin promoter to constitutively express lacZ, which is replaced with eGFP expression upon Cre activation 39. These mice were acquired from Jackson Labs (Stock Number 003920), maintained on a CD-1 background and genotyped as in 39. Embryonic gestational age was determined by timed matings, with the date of the vaginal plug as E0. 5. 

The upstream, noncoding 2. 4 Kb of mouse Atoh7 genomic DNA (nucleotides -3032 to -503 containing the primary enhancer but lacking the TATAA box) was PCR amplified using primers with engineered XbaI and BglII restriction sites, cloned into the Xba I-Bam HI sites of the pBGnCherry vector 47 in the normal transcriptional orientation, and verified by Sanger sequencing. The Atoh7 fragment was PCR amplified (EXPAND Hi-Fidelity polyermase) from a previously subcloned 6. 5 Kb mouse Atoh7 genomic DNA template 3, digested with BglII and XbaI and then purified. The pBGnCherry vector 47 contains a minimal human β-globin promoter and monomeric Cherry red fluorescent protein reporter cassette (mCherry), as well as a synthetic amino terminal nuclear localization signal (MAPKKKRKVEDV) downstream of the BamHI site. There is no intrinsic activity of this vector in transgenic mice 47. Linearized DNA was microinjected into CD-1 mouse pronuclei by the CHRF Transgenic Core Facility. F 0 embryos were collected at E13. 5 and screened for live mCherry fluorescence with a Leica MZ12 dissecting scope equipped with a Texas-Red filter. We harvested 4 Cherry +/44 embryos and each Cherry-positive embryonic head was cryoembedded, sectioned and analyzed using immunohistochemistry and confocal imaging (see below). 

Bioinformatics of Rbpj binding sites. Three kilobases of 5′ and three kilobases of 3′ noncoding genomic DNA from the mouse and human Atoh7 genes (Gene IDs 53404 and 220202) were aligned using the MacVector Clustal W algorithm (v. 12). CNEs were identified in multiple vertebrate genomes using the UCSC genome browser MultiZ alignment and conservation features and mm10 genome assembly (http://genome. ucsc. edu). Putative CSL/Rbpj binding sites were identified using the TRANSFAC MATCH program with matrices M01111 (V$RBPJK_Q4) and M01112 (V$RBPJK_01). Previously defined Pax6 paired domain and E-box binding sites within the mouse Atoh7 primary distal CNE are included for reference 8, 10, 11. 

Immunohistochemistry. Embryonic heads were fixed in 4% paraformaldehyde/PBS for 1 hour at 4 °C, processed through a sucrose/PBS series, cryoembedded and sectioned at 10 μm. Immunohistochemistry using our lab protocol 2 to label with chick anti-GFP (Abcam, 1:1000, AB13970), rat anti-Rbpj (CosmoBio, 1:100, SIM-2ZRBP-1), rabbit anti-Atoh7 (Novus Biologicals, 1:500, NBP1-88639), or goat anti-mCherry polyclonal (SICGEN, 1:500, AB0040-200) primary antibodies. Secondary antibodies were directly conjugated to Alexa Fluor 488 (Invitrogen, A21208), Alexa Fluor 594 (Jackson ImmunoResearch, 712-586-153), Alexa 594 (Invitrogen, A11058), Alexa Fluor 647 (Invitrogen, A21244), or Dylight 649 (Jackson ImmunoResearch, 711-495-152). Microscopic imaging used either a Zeiss Axioplan fluorescent microscope with a black and white camera, Apotome deconvolution device, and Axiovision (v. 7. 0) software, or a Leica DM5500 microscope equipped with a SPEII solid state confocal and Leica LASAF software. All digital micrographs were electronically adjusted equivalently for brightness, contrast and pseudocoloring using Adobe Photoshop CS5 software. 

Western blotting. Pairs of lenses were harvested from E14. 5 Rbpj CKO/CKO, Le-Cre;Rbpj CKO/+ and Le-Cre;Rbpj CKO/CKO embryos and flash frozen. Twenty lenses (10 pairs) of the same genotype were pooled and lysed in RIPA buffer (50 mM Tris-HCl pH 8. 0, 150 mM NaCl, 0. 5% sodium deoxycholate, 0. 1% SDS, 1% NP40) containing Complete protease inhibitors (Sigma 11697498001). Total protein concentrations were determined by Bradford assay (Biorad, 500-0006). NuPAGE 4-12% Bis-Tris gels (Invitrogen, NP0322BOX) were loaded with 20ug of total lens protein per gel lane, electrophoresed and transferred onto nitrocellulose membranes (Invitrogen, LC2000). Standard western blotting was performed, using rat anti-Rbpj (Cosmo Bio Co, 1:500 SIM-2ZRBP-2) or mouse anti-β-actin (Sigma, 1:3000, A1978) primary antibodies, followed by HRP-conjugated anti-rat IgG or mouse IgG secondary antibodies (Jackson Immunoresearch, Rat 112-035-175 1:5000, Mouse 315-035-003, 1:10,000). Blots were developed using a Supersignal West Pico Chemiluminescent substrate kit (Thermo Scientific, 34078), Kodak standard x-ray film and film developer.
section_name: Animals.

section_content: Single-stranded complementary oligonucleotides containing predicted CSL binding sites were labeled using a Biotin 3′ end DNA labeling kit (Thermo Scientific, 89818). Double-stranded DNA probes were made by annealing biotin-labeled complementary oligonucleotide pairs at room temperature for one hour. 0. 5 μM purified mouse Rbpj protein (residues 53-474; Friedmann et al., 2008) and 1 nM of labeled oligonucleotide complexes, in the presence of 1. 9 ng/μl poly[d(I-C)] (Sigma, 10108812001), were resolved on a 6% DNA retardation gels (Invitrogen, EC63652BOX) in 0. 5 × TBE buffer and then transferred to nylon membranes. The LightShift Chemiluminescent EMSA kit assay (Thermo Scientific, 20148) was performed on the blots, which were developed using the Chemiluminescent Nucleic Acid Detection kit (Thermo Scientific, 89880), Kodak x-ray film and film developer. 

Isothermal titration calorimetry of CSL-DNA complexes. The production and purification of bacterially expressed Rbpj protein, residues 53-474, has been described 16, 42. Oligonucleotides from Integrated DNA Technologies (IDT) (Fig. 4A ) were hydrated, purified, quantified and annealed as in 16. All purified components were degassed, buffer matched and quantified as previously described 16. A typical experiment was performed at 5 °C using a MicroCal VP-ITC microcalorimeter with the oligomeric duplex (~100 μM) in the syringe and Rbpj (~10 μM) in the cell and consisted of 40 injections of 7 μl each. Data analysis used the ORIGIN software and was fitted to a one-site binding model, with binding data representing the average of n = 3 experiments. 

Chromatin immunoprecipitation and Real-time PCR. ChIP was performed as described 10, 76 with several modifications. 30 E14. 5 CD-1 pooled embryonic retinas were crosslinked with 1% formaldehyde and the reaction stopped by addition of 125 mM final concentration of glycine. Chromatin was sheered to 300-1000 bp size range with a Bioruptor UCD-200 sonicator + chiller (Diagenode), for 20 minutes at high power with 15 sec ON/30 sec OFF cycles. Either 3 μg rat anti-Rbpj antibody (Cosmo Bio Co, SIM-2ZRBP1) or rat IgG (Jackson ImmunoResearch, 012-000-003) were incubated with 40 μg sonicated chromatin overnight at 4 °C. Immune complexes were collected with Protein G agarose beads (Sigma, P7700), washed several times and eluted using 0. 5 M NaHCO 3, 1% SDS elution buffer. Pax6 ChIP was run in parallel from each retinal chromatin prep, by incubating 20 μg of sheared chromatin with 1 μg anti-Pax6 (Covance, PRB-278P), or rabbit IgG (Jackson ImmunoResearch, 011-000-003), coupled to Protein A sepharose beads (GE Healthcare, 17-0780-01). Input and immunoprecipitated chromatin samples were initially analyzed by performing 30 cycles of PCR amplification and agarose gel electrophoresis, then quantified by real time PCR, using Table S4 primers, fast SYBR Green master mixes and a StepOnePlus PCR system (Applied Biosystems, 4385612 and 4376600). A standard curve using serial dilutions of 1% input chromatin was used to calculate the percent input of each sample. The p-values were determined by ANOVA and a Bonferroni posthoc test (Rbpj) or a student's unpaired, 2-tailed t-test (Pax6) with GraphPad Prism software (v6). 

Luciferase Assay. The upstream 2. 6 Kb noncoding DNA from the mouse Atoh7 locus was previously cloned into the pGL2 luciferase vector 10. Rbpj binding site mutations were generated using PCR-based site directed mutagenesis 77 and verified by Sanger Sequencing. Either 3. 5 × 10 5 HEK293T or 5 × 10 5 AD12HER10 cells were plated per well of a 6-well tissue culture plate. After 48 hours (~60% confluency) cultures were transfected according to the Fugene6 (Promega, E2692) protocol with a 5:1 Fugene6 to DNA ratio, with the DNA constituting 500 ng of luciferase plasmid and 50 ng of Renilla control plasmid (pRL). In Notch ICD overexpression experiments, 100 ng of NICD1/pBK-CMV, 100 ng of NICD3/p3XFLAG-CMV-7TM, or a mixture of 50 ng of each plasmid were cotransfected with the luciferase and Renilla plasmids. Cells were washed in PBS, harvested 48 hours after transfection in 500 μL 1 × PLB (Promega) and cell pellets stored at -80 °C. Cell extracts were assayed in technical triplicate using the Dual Luciferase Assay System (Promega, E1980) on a Perkin Elmer Victor X5 workstation. Luciferase activity levels were normalized to the control Renilla activity, and p-values determined with GraphPad Prism (v6) software, using a two-tailed, unpaired t-test with equal standard deviation and assuming a Gaussian distribution.
section_name: Electrophoretic Mobility Shift Assay (EMSA).

section_content: Total RNA was extracted using the RNeasy micro kit (Qiagen, Cat No 74004) from 1 pair of dissected E13. 5 retinas, or using Trizol (Invitrogen Cat No 15596026) for HER-10 cells. For embryonic retinal RNA 100 ng was reverse transcribed into cDNA using the iScript Synthesis kit and product protocol (BioRad, Cat No. 178891). For HER-10 cells, 6. 5 μg of total RNA was first treated with 1U of 10 U/μL of DNase (Roche Cat No. 04716728001) by incubating at 37 °C × 35 min, 80 °C × 5 min, 90 °C × 3 min. Then 2 μg of treated RNA was used for cDNA synthesis, with Superscript III and manufacturer protocol (Invitrogen/ThermoFisher, Cat No. 18080093). Both experiments included a mock synthesis (lacking total RNA) performed in parallel. For embryonic retinas, 1 μL of cDNA was combined with individual primer sets (Supplemental Table S4 ) and Go-Taq polymerase (Promega, cat # M7122) for 35 cycles of PCR at 95 °C × 30 sec, 55 °C × 30 sec, 72 °C × 30 sec. PCR products were electrophoresed on a 2% TAE agarose gel. Alternatively, 1 μL HER-10 cDNA was combined with individual primer sets (Supplemental Table S4 ), 1 × PCR Buffer and dNTPs, 1 × Masteramp (Epicentre/Illumina, ME81210) and 1U of Taq polymerase (5U/μL Roche/Sigma, Cat No. 11146173001) for 35 cycles of PCR at 95 °C × 30 sec, 60 °C × 30 sec, 72 °C × 30 sec. PCR products were electrophoresed on a 1% TBE agarose gel.
section_name: RT-PCR.

section_name: Acknowledgements

section_content: The authors thank Tasuku Honjo for Rbpj flox mice, Ruth Ashery Padan for α-Cre and Le-Cre transgenic lines, Shiming Chen and Guang-Hua Peng for guidance on ChIP assays, Brad VanderWielen for purified Rbpj protein, Jane Johnson for pBGnCherry vector, Malgorzata Quinn, Yuqi Cai and Tien Le for technical support, Joo-Seop Park and Tom Glaser for fruitful discussions and critical feedback. This work was supported by NIH R01 grants EY13612 to NLB, CA178974 to RAK, and NEI Training Grants T32EY015387 to JBM and T32ES007250 to ANC.
section_name: Acknowledgements

section_name: Data availability.

section_content: All data generated or analyzed during this study are included within this published article and its Supplementary Information files.
section_name: Data availability.

section_name: Author Contributions

section_content: Supplementary information accompanies this paper at https://doi. org/10. 1038/s41598-018-28420-y.
section_name: Additional Information

section_content: The authors declare no competing interests. 

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section_name: Competing Interests: