Interplay between DNA sequence motifs and the human epigenome

Abstract

Epigenomic modification is important in establishing cell-type specific gene expression; however, the regulation of the epigenome is not well understood. To investigate the role of DNA motifs in regulating the epigenome we have established an analysis pipeline that identifies DNA motifs that are predictive of epigenomic modification. We apply our strategy to a dataset of six histone modifications in five cell-types. Comparison of the identified motifs to known motifs identified interplay between known factors and the epigenome. Motif location preference analysis revealed that motifs occur at the edge of modification peaks and suggests they may function by establishing barriers.