Assay for Transposase-Accessible Chromatin using sequencing (ATAC-seq) is a powerful technique in epigenomics, allowing researchers to study chromatin accessibility. ATAC-seq has broad applications in biomedical research, ranging from disease pathogenesis to drug discovery, and it plays a key role in understanding cellular differentiation at single-cell resolution. Below is a detailed exploration of the applications of ATAC-seq in various fields.
The number of articles related to ATAC-seq across various classifications. (Zhao, Y. et al,2020)Number of ATAC-seq-related articles with different classifications1 (Zhao, Y. et al,2020)
ATAC-seq in Epigenetics and Disease Research
Chromatin accessibility is crucial for gene regulation, and changes in chromatin structure are often linked to diseases. ATAC-seq helps reveal which regions of the genome are open and available for transcription, providing valuable insights into how epigenetic mechanisms contribute to health and disease2.
In complex diseases such as cardiovascular disorders or diabetes, ATAC-seq can identify open chromatin regions associated with specific gene regulation changes, offering clues to genetic susceptibility. For example, Davidson, R. K. et al used ATAC-seq to identify chromatin regions associated with insulin regulation, linking them to gene expression changes that impact diabetes-related β-cell function3. Additionally, it helps track epigenetic markers associated with environmental exposures or lifestyle factors, giving researchers the ability to study interactions between genetics and environment on a molecular level.
ATAC-seq also complements other sequencing methods, such as ChIP-seq, by offering a broader view of regulatory regions, including promoters and enhancers. These data help build models for gene expression regulation, especially in understanding the dynamic changes in chromatin landscapes under various conditions.