Assay for Transposase-Accessible Chromatin Using Sequencing (ATAC-seq) Data Analysis

The study of epigenetic properties of the human genome, including structural modifications of DNA and chromatin, has increased tremendously as mounting evidence has demonstrated how much epigenetics affects human gene expression. Buenrostro et al. have developed a rapid method, requiring low numbers of living cells as input, for examining chromatin accessibility across the epigenome, known as the assay for transposase-accessible chromatin using sequencing (ATAC-seq). The overall goal of this unit is to provide a thorough ATAC-seq data analysis plan, as well as describe how primary human blood samples can be processed for use in ATAC-seq. In addition, a number of quality control parameters are discussed to ensure the integrity and confidence in the ATAC-seq data. © 2017 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.