Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42140939›Full record

ArticleNature communications2026

H3K9me3 controls epidermis morphogenesis by regulating RNA Pol II dynamics at developmental promoters and enhancers.

Chris Ke Bai, Gopal Chovatiya, Emily Janine Pollack, Yu-Ching Liao, Ashley Nayeon Kim, Tudorita Tumbar

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Nature communications, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors.

Chris Ke BaiDepartment of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-1179-2715
Gopal ChovatiyaDepartment of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-0993-8877
Emily Janine PollackDepartment of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA.ORCID http://orcid.org/0009-0004-9524-1225
Yu-Ching LiaoDepartment of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-2491-2648
Ashley Nayeon KimDepartment of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA.
Tudorita TumbarDepartment of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA. tt252@cornell.edu.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-2273-1889

Funding

Tissue regeneration studies by controlled H3 K4/9/27me3 levels in adult mouse skinR01AR073806 · NIAMS · CORNELL UNIVERSITY · PI JOHN T LIS, Tudorita Tumbar · 2018 to 2026
$3.9M
Defining the heterogeneity of cell lineages in the inter-follicular epidermisR01AR070157 · NIAMS · CORNELL UNIVERSITY · PI Tudorita Tumbar · 2017 to 2026
$3.8M
NIAMS NIH HHS R01 AR070157NIAMS NIH HHS R01 AR073806U.S. Department of Health & Human Services | NIH | National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS) R01AR070157U.S. Department of Health & Human Services | NIH | National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS) R01AR073806
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Histone H3K9me3 silences repetitive elements and represses non-lineage genes during early development, but its role in organogenesis is understudied. Here, we show that H3K9me3 deposition is dynamic during epidermis morphogenesis and essential for lineage diversification. We ablate Suv39h1, Suv39h2, and Setdb1 histone methyltransferases, in the embryonic mouse epidermis, to induce H3K9me3 loss. This causes complete failure of keratinocyte differentiation, skin barrier formation, hair follicle development, and Merkel cell specification. Single-cell transcriptomics reveals aberrant cell fates with mixed epidermal subtype identities and dysregulated non-lineage and lineage-specific transcription programs. Affected pathways include differentiation, metabolism, cell cycle, cytoskeletal organization, and extracellular matrix. H3K9me3 primarily restricts RNA Pol II transcription initiation at key developmental promoters and enhancers and has minimal direct effect on promoter-proximal pause release. We uncover a cooperative and indispensable role for Suv39h1, Suv39h2, and Setdb1 in gene expression control of epidermal morphogenesis, establishing H3K9me3 as a critical developmental determinant of skin organogenesis.

Indexed as

EpidermisHistonesMorphogenesisPromoter Regions, GeneticRNA Polymerase IIAnimalsCell DifferentiationEnhancer Elements, GeneticGene Expression Regulation, DevelopmentalHistone-Lysine N-MethyltransferaseKeratinocytesMethyltransferasesMiceRepressor ProteinsHistone-Lysine N-MethyltransferaseHistonesMethyltransferasesRepressor ProteinsRNA Polymerase IISETDB1 protein, mouseSuv39h1 protein, mouse

Identifiers

PMID42140939
PMCPMC13377180

What Socratic holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.