ZNF143 is dynamically bound to a subset of its interphase sites during mitosis

Abstract During mitosis, transcription is ceased, chromatin becomes condensed, many chromatin features are lost, and most transcription factors (TFs) are excluded from chromosomes. The mechanism on how daughter cells maintain cell identity after exiting mitosis remains unclear. A subset of multiple lineage-specific and general TFs remains bound to mitotic chromosomes during mitosis, thereby suggesting a potential mechanism termed mitotic bookmarking. Here, genome-wide binding analysis of TF ZNF143 in human A549 lung epithelial cells reveals that ZNF143 remains partially associated with its interphase-specific genomic regions during mitosis. Genome distribution analysis shows that 80% of these regions preferentially localize to promoters. In addition, ZNF143 in mitosis may could recruit other relative TFs when the cells re-enter into G1 phase and rapidly initiates gene transcription. These results suggest that the dynamic binding of ZNF143 during cell cycle has a potential mitotic bookmarking role in maintaining cell fate and identity.