Nup153 regulates neuronal responsiveness through HDAC1-mediated epigenetic modulation

Neural activity-dependent gene regulation is central to the development of neural networks and neuronal plasticity. Induction of activity-dependent gene programs is equally important as repression of these programs, and both need to be balanced carefully. However, little is known about how repressive mechanisms modulate neuronal responsiveness across the genome before stimulation. Here, we identify nucleoporin-dependent regulation of neuronal responsiveness, in which Nup153 represses neuronal genes including activity-regulated genes (ARGs), in the basal state. By characterizing the genome-wide landscape of chromatin accessibility, histone modifications and Nup153 chromatin binding, we show that Nup153 bidirectionally regulates chromatin states through both basal activity-dependent and -independent mechanisms and influences associated genes. Mechanistically, Nup153 associates with HDAC1 to modulate histone acetylation and chromatin accessibility at target regulatory regions. Our data suggests Nup153 organizes chromatin states that regulate neuronal gene programs involved in maintaining neuronal responsiveness.