HOX13 factors shape cell developmental transcriptional program through multiple mechanisms that regulate chromatin accessibility.

HOX13 factors promote both the initial opening and maintenance of chromatin accessibility at subsets of target regulatory elements, using homodimerization and SWI/SNF recruitment.

• Why it matters: HOX proteins can bind chromatin that is initially inaccessible, but how they shape chromatin accessibility during development and later tissue programs is not well defined.
• What they did: Using in vivo and in vitro experiments, the study tests HOX13-dependent accessibility and shows roles for HOX13 homodimerization and recruitment of the SWI/SNF chromatin remodeling complex.
• The result: In iPSCs, HOXA13 induction rapidly reduces pluripotency gene expression while activating an early osteochondrogenic program, consistent with direct HOXA13 regulation of at least part of those genes.

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