2026-09-02 理化学研究所,慶應義塾大学
標的ゲノム領域のクロマチンの開き具合を効率的に測るUNIChro-seq
＜関連情報＞
- https://www.riken.jp/press/2026/20260902_1/index.html
- https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-026-75767-2
UNIChro-seqを用いた標的遺伝子座における正確、高感度、かつ効率的なクロマチンアクセシビリティ定量 Accurate, sensitive, and efficient chromatin accessibility quantification at target loci using UNIChro-seq
Michihiro Kono,Hiroaki Hatano,Kenichiro Asahara,Masahiro Nakano,Reza Bagherzadeh,Tsugumi Kawashima,Takahiro Arakawa,Miho Sato,Hajime Inokuchi,Takahiro Nishino,Takahiro Itamiya,Haruka Takahashi,Bunki Natsumoto,Akari Suzuki,Kazuhiko Yamamoto & Kazuyoshi Ishigaki
Nature Communications Published:20 July 2026
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-026-75767-2
Abstract
Recent progress in statistical and experimental fine mapping of disease risk variants prompts us to focus on specific target loci for functional investigation. However, current genetics is hindered by a limited toolbox for target-loci analysis. To address this, we present UNIChro-seq, a method that digitally counts accessible chromatin molecules at target loci. UNIChro-seq allows for accurate, sensitive, and efficient quantification of allelic effects compared to conventional methods. Using UNIChro-seq, we investigate the effects of 57 autoimmunity risk alleles on chromatin accessibility and estimate the causal effects of 20 artificial variants generated through genome editing. As a caveat, a non-negligible fraction of the edited alleles exhibits a falsely positive effect on chromatin accessibility, which can be effectively distinguished from the true causal effect through bi-directional genome editing. Finally, functional dissection of a fine-mapped risk variant at the LEF1 locus illuminates its relevance to T cell dysregulation in rheumatoid arthritis. Together, these findings underscore the utility of combining UNIChro-seq with genome editing technology to enable precise and scalable functional analysis of disease-associated loci.
