Cell type-specific epigenome profiling using affinity-purified nuclei

The development of a multicellular organism from a single zygote depends on the differentiation of progenitor cells to specialized cell types. The differentiation of these cell types is associated with changes in gene expression and the underlying chromatin landscape. To understand how these processes are regulated, it is desirable to understand how the chromatin features that constitute the epigenome differ between cell types at any given time during development. INTACT, a method for the cell type-specific purification of nuclei that can be used for the isolation of both RNA and chromatin, has emerged as a powerful tool to simultaneously study gene expression and chromatin profiles specifically in cell types of interest. In this review, we focus on the application of INTACT to different model organisms and discuss its potential for profiling cell types in their developmental context.