Meaning of +/- in output

[sarah-chapin]

Hello,

What is the meaning of the +/- annotation for the identified e-regulons? For example, two of the e-regulons identified in my analysis are TP63_direct_+/- and TP63_direct_+/+. What is the difference between these two?

[SeppeDeWinter]

Hi @sarah-chapin

It refers to the TF-to-gene (first sign) and region-to-gene (second sign) correlation.

See table below:

TF-to-gene relationship	region-to-gene relationship	biological role
positive (+)	positive (+)	TF opens chromatin and activates gene expression
positive (+)	negative (-)	When the TF is expressed the target gene is also expressed but the regions linked to the gene are closed.
negative (-)	positive (+)	When the TF is expressed the target gene is not expressed. When the target gene is expressed, regions linked to this gene are open. TF could be a chromatin closing repressor.
negative (-)	negative (-)	When the TF is expressed the target gene is not expressed. When the target gene is expressed, regions linked to this gene are closed.

Best,

Seppe