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Deaville LA, Berrens RV. Technology to the rescue: how to uncover the role of transposable elements in preimplantation development. Biochem Soc Trans 2024; 52:1349-1362. [PMID: 38752836 PMCID: PMC11346443 DOI: 10.1042/bst20231262] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2024] [Revised: 04/23/2024] [Accepted: 04/24/2024] [Indexed: 06/27/2024]
Abstract
Transposable elements (TEs) are highly expressed in preimplantation development. Preimplantation development is the phase when the cells of the early embryo undergo the first cell fate choice and change from being totipotent to pluripotent. A range of studies have advanced our understanding of TEs in preimplantation, as well as their epigenetic regulation and functional roles. However, many questions remain about the implications of TE expression during early development. Challenges originate first due to the abundance of TEs in the genome, and second because of the limited cell numbers in preimplantation. Here we review the most recent technological advancements promising to shed light onto the role of TEs in preimplantation development. We explore novel avenues to identify genomic TE insertions and improve our understanding of the regulatory mechanisms and roles of TEs and their RNA and protein products during early development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lauryn A. Deaville
- Institute for Developmental and Regenerative Medicine, Oxford University, IMS-Tetsuya Nakamura Building, Old Road Campus, Roosevelt Dr, Oxford OX3 7TY, U.K
- Department of Paediatrics, Oxford University, Level 2, Children's Hospital, John Radcliffe Headington, Oxford OX3 9DU, U.K
- MRC Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, Oxford University, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford OX3 9DS, U.K
| | - Rebecca V. Berrens
- Institute for Developmental and Regenerative Medicine, Oxford University, IMS-Tetsuya Nakamura Building, Old Road Campus, Roosevelt Dr, Oxford OX3 7TY, U.K
- Department of Paediatrics, Oxford University, Level 2, Children's Hospital, John Radcliffe Headington, Oxford OX3 9DU, U.K
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2
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Stötzel M, Cheng CY, IIik IA, Kumar AS, Omgba PA, van der Weijden VA, Zhang Y, Vingron M, Meissner A, Aktaş T, Kretzmer H, Bulut-Karslioğlu A. TET activity safeguards pluripotency throughout embryonic dormancy. Nat Struct Mol Biol 2024:10.1038/s41594-024-01313-7. [PMID: 38783076 DOI: 10.1038/s41594-024-01313-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2024] [Accepted: 04/10/2024] [Indexed: 05/25/2024]
Abstract
Dormancy is an essential biological process for the propagation of many life forms through generations and stressful conditions. Early embryos of many mammals are preservable for weeks to months within the uterus in a dormant state called diapause, which can be induced in vitro through mTOR inhibition. Cellular strategies that safeguard original cell identity within the silent genomic landscape of dormancy are not known. Here we show that the protection of cis-regulatory elements from silencing is key to maintaining pluripotency in the dormant state. We reveal a TET-transcription factor axis, in which TET-mediated DNA demethylation and recruitment of methylation-sensitive transcription factor TFE3 drive transcriptionally inert chromatin adaptations during dormancy transition. Perturbation of TET activity compromises pluripotency and survival of mouse embryos under dormancy, whereas its enhancement improves survival rates. Our results reveal an essential mechanism for propagating the cellular identity of dormant cells, with implications for regeneration and disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maximilian Stötzel
- Stem Cell Chromatin Lab, Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics, Berlin, Germany
- Institute of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Department of Biology, Chemistry and Pharmacy, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Chieh-Yu Cheng
- Stem Cell Chromatin Lab, Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics, Berlin, Germany
- Institute of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Department of Biology, Chemistry and Pharmacy, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Ibrahim A IIik
- Otto Warburg Laboratories, Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics, Berlin, Germany
| | - Abhishek Sampath Kumar
- Institute of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Department of Biology, Chemistry and Pharmacy, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
- Department of Genome Regulation, Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics, Berlin, Germany
| | - Persia Akbari Omgba
- Stem Cell Chromatin Lab, Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics, Berlin, Germany
- Department of Mathematics and Computer Science, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | | | - Yufei Zhang
- Department of Computational Molecular Biology, Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics, Berlin, Germany
| | - Martin Vingron
- Department of Computational Molecular Biology, Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics, Berlin, Germany
| | - Alexander Meissner
- Department of Genome Regulation, Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics, Berlin, Germany
| | - Tuğçe Aktaş
- Otto Warburg Laboratories, Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics, Berlin, Germany
| | - Helene Kretzmer
- Department of Genome Regulation, Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics, Berlin, Germany
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3
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Achiro JM, Tao Y, Gao F, Lin CH, Watanabe M, Neumann S, Coppola G, Black DL, Martin KC. Aging differentially alters the transcriptome and landscape of chromatin accessibility in the male and female mouse hippocampus. Front Mol Neurosci 2024; 17:1334862. [PMID: 38318533 PMCID: PMC10839115 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2024.1334862] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2023] [Accepted: 01/02/2024] [Indexed: 02/07/2024] Open
Abstract
Aging-related memory impairment and pathological memory disorders such as Alzheimer's disease differ between males and females, and yet little is known about how aging-related changes in the transcriptome and chromatin environment differ between sexes in the hippocampus. To investigate this question, we compared the chromatin accessibility landscape and gene expression/alternative splicing pattern of young adult and aged mouse hippocampus in both males and females using ATAC-seq and RNA-seq. We detected significant aging-dependent changes in the expression of genes involved in immune response and synaptic function and aging-dependent changes in the alternative splicing of myelin sheath genes. We found significant sex-bias in the expression and alternative splicing of hundreds of genes, including aging-dependent female-biased expression of myelin sheath genes and aging-dependent male-biased expression of genes involved in synaptic function. Aging was associated with increased chromatin accessibility in both male and female hippocampus, especially in repetitive elements, and with an increase in LINE-1 transcription. We detected significant sex-bias in chromatin accessibility in both autosomes and the X chromosome, with male-biased accessibility enriched at promoters and CpG-rich regions. Sex differences in gene expression and chromatin accessibility were amplified with aging, findings that may shed light on sex differences in aging-related and pathological memory loss.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer M. Achiro
- Department of Biological Chemistry, David Geffen School of Medicine, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Yang Tao
- Department of Biological Chemistry, David Geffen School of Medicine, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Fuying Gao
- Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior, David Geffen School of Medicine, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Chia-Ho Lin
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Molecular Genetics, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Marika Watanabe
- Department of Biological Chemistry, David Geffen School of Medicine, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Sylvia Neumann
- Department of Biological Chemistry, David Geffen School of Medicine, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Giovanni Coppola
- Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior, David Geffen School of Medicine, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Douglas L. Black
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Molecular Genetics, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Kelsey C. Martin
- Department of Biological Chemistry, David Geffen School of Medicine, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA, United States
- Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior, David Geffen School of Medicine, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA, United States
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4
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Saha K, Nielsen GI, Nandani R, Kong L, Ye P, An W. YY1 is a transcriptional activator of mouse LINE-1 Tf subfamily. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.01.03.573552. [PMID: 38260579 PMCID: PMC10802269 DOI: 10.1101/2024.01.03.573552] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/24/2024]
Abstract
Long interspersed element type 1 (LINE-1, L1) is an active autonomous transposable element (TE) in the human genome. The first step of L1 replication is transcription, which is controlled by an internal RNA polymerase II promoter in the 5' untranslated region (UTR) of a full-length L1. It has been shown that transcription factor YY1 binds to a conserved sequence motif at the 5' end of the human L1 5'UTR and dictates where transcription initiates but not the level of transcription. Putative YY1-binding motifs have been predicted in the 5'UTRs of two distinct mouse L1 subfamilies, Tf and Gf. Using site-directed mutagenesis, in vitro binding, and gene knockdown assays, we experimentally tested the role of YY1 in mouse L1 transcription. Our results indicate that Tf, but not Gf subfamily, harbors functional YY1-binding sites in its 5'UTR monomers. In contrast to its role in human L1, YY1 functions as a transcriptional activator for the mouse Tf subfamily. Furthermore, YY1-binding motifs are solely responsible for the synergistic interaction between monomers, consistent with a model wherein distant monomers act as enhancers for mouse L1 transcription. The abundance of YY1-binding sites in Tf elements also raise important implications for gene regulation at the genomic level.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karabi Saha
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, South Dakota State University, Brookings, SD 57007, USA
| | - Grace I. Nielsen
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, South Dakota State University, Brookings, SD 57007, USA
| | - Raj Nandani
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, South Dakota State University, Brookings, SD 57007, USA
| | - Lingqi Kong
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, South Dakota State University, Brookings, SD 57007, USA
| | - Ping Ye
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, South Dakota State University, Brookings, SD 57007, USA
| | - Wenfeng An
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, South Dakota State University, Brookings, SD 57007, USA
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5
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Meng S, Liu X, Zhu S, Xie P, Fang H, Pan Q, Fang K, Li F, Zhang J, Che Z, Zhang Q, Mao G, Wang Y, Hu P, Chen K, Sun F, Xie W, Luo Z, Lin C. Young LINE-1 transposon 5' UTRs marked by elongation factor ELL3 function as enhancers to regulate naïve pluripotency in embryonic stem cells. Nat Cell Biol 2023; 25:1319-1331. [PMID: 37591949 DOI: 10.1038/s41556-023-01211-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2022] [Accepted: 07/19/2023] [Indexed: 08/19/2023]
Abstract
LINE-1s are the major clade of retrotransposons with autonomous retrotransposition activity. Despite the potential genotoxicity, LINE-1s are highly activated in early embryos. Here we show that a subset of young LINE-1s, L1Md_Ts, are marked by the RNA polymerase II elongation factor ELL3, and function as enhancers in mouse embryonic stem cells. ELL3 depletion dislodges the DNA hydroxymethylase TET1 and the co-repressor SIN3A from L1Md_Ts, but increases the enrichment of the Bromodomain protein BRD4, leading to loss of 5hmC, gain of H3K27ac, and upregulation of the L1Md_T nearby genes. Specifically, ELL3 occupies and represses the L1Md_T-based enhancer located within Akt3, which encodes a key regulator of AKT pathway. ELL3 is required for proper ERK activation and efficient shutdown of naïve pluripotency through inhibiting Akt3 during naïve-primed transition. Our study reveals that the enhancer function of a subset of young LINE-1s controlled by ELL3 in transcription regulation and mouse early embryo development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Siyan Meng
- Key Laboratory of Developmental Genes and Human Disease, School of Life Science and Technology, Southeast University, Nanjing, China
- Co-innovation Center of Neuroregeneration, Nantong University, Nantong, China
| | - Xiaoxu Liu
- Key Laboratory of Developmental Genes and Human Disease, School of Life Science and Technology, Southeast University, Nanjing, China
| | - Shiqi Zhu
- Key Laboratory of Developmental Genes and Human Disease, School of Life Science and Technology, Southeast University, Nanjing, China
| | - Peng Xie
- School of Biological Science and Medical Engineering, Southeast University, Nanjing, China
| | - Haitong Fang
- Key Laboratory of Developmental Genes and Human Disease, School of Life Science and Technology, Southeast University, Nanjing, China
| | - Qingyun Pan
- Key Laboratory of Developmental Genes and Human Disease, School of Life Science and Technology, Southeast University, Nanjing, China
| | - Ke Fang
- Key Laboratory of Developmental Genes and Human Disease, School of Life Science and Technology, Southeast University, Nanjing, China
| | - Fanfan Li
- Key Laboratory of Developmental Genes and Human Disease, School of Life Science and Technology, Southeast University, Nanjing, China
| | - Jin Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Developmental Genes and Human Disease, School of Life Science and Technology, Southeast University, Nanjing, China
| | - Zhuanzhuan Che
- Key Laboratory of Developmental Genes and Human Disease, School of Life Science and Technology, Southeast University, Nanjing, China
| | - Quanyong Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Primate Biomedical Research, Institute of Primate Translational Medicine, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, China
- Yunnan Key Laboratory of Primate Biomedical Research, Kunming, China
| | - Guangyao Mao
- Key Laboratory of Developmental Genes and Human Disease, School of Life Science and Technology, Southeast University, Nanjing, China
| | - Yan Wang
- Department of Prenatal Diagnosis, Women's Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing Maternity and Child Health Care Hospital, Nanjing, China
| | - Ping Hu
- Department of Prenatal Diagnosis, Women's Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing Maternity and Child Health Care Hospital, Nanjing, China
| | - Kai Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Primate Biomedical Research, Institute of Primate Translational Medicine, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, China
- Yunnan Key Laboratory of Primate Biomedical Research, Kunming, China
| | - Fei Sun
- Key Laboratory of Developmental Genes and Human Disease, School of Life Science and Technology, Southeast University, Nanjing, China
| | - Wei Xie
- Key Laboratory of Developmental Genes and Human Disease, School of Life Science and Technology, Southeast University, Nanjing, China
| | - Zhuojuan Luo
- Key Laboratory of Developmental Genes and Human Disease, School of Life Science and Technology, Southeast University, Nanjing, China.
- Co-innovation Center of Neuroregeneration, Nantong University, Nantong, China.
- Jiangsu Provincial Key Laboratory of Critical Care Medicine, Southeast University, Nanjing, China.
- Shenzhen Research Institute, Southeast University, Shenzhen, China.
| | - Chengqi Lin
- Key Laboratory of Developmental Genes and Human Disease, School of Life Science and Technology, Southeast University, Nanjing, China.
- Co-innovation Center of Neuroregeneration, Nantong University, Nantong, China.
- Shenzhen Research Institute, Southeast University, Shenzhen, China.
- Jiangsu Province Hi-Tech Key Laboratory for Biomedical Research, Southeast University, Nanjing, China.
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6
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Gerdes P, Chan D, Lundberg M, Sanchez-Luque FJ, Bodea GO, Ewing AD, Faulkner GJ, Richardson SR. Locus-resolution analysis of L1 regulation and retrotransposition potential in mouse embryonic development. Genome Res 2023; 33:1465-1481. [PMID: 37798118 PMCID: PMC10620060 DOI: 10.1101/gr.278003.123] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2023] [Accepted: 08/21/2023] [Indexed: 10/07/2023]
Abstract
Mice harbor ∼2800 intact copies of the retrotransposon Long Interspersed Element 1 (L1). The in vivo retrotransposition capacity of an L1 copy is defined by both its sequence integrity and epigenetic status, including DNA methylation of the monomeric units constituting young mouse L1 promoters. Locus-specific L1 methylation dynamics during development may therefore elucidate and explain spatiotemporal niches of endogenous retrotransposition but remain unresolved. Here, we interrogate the retrotransposition efficiency and epigenetic fate of source (donor) L1s, identified as mobile in vivo. We show that promoter monomer loss consistently attenuates the relative retrotransposition potential of their offspring (daughter) L1 insertions. We also observe that most donor/daughter L1 pairs are efficiently methylated upon differentiation in vivo and in vitro. We use Oxford Nanopore Technologies (ONT) long-read sequencing to resolve L1 methylation genome-wide and at individual L1 loci, revealing a distinctive "smile" pattern in methylation levels across the L1 promoter region. Using Pacific Biosciences (PacBio) SMRT sequencing of L1 5' RACE products, we then examine DNA methylation dynamics at the mouse L1 promoter in parallel with transcription start site (TSS) distribution at locus-specific resolution. Together, our results offer a novel perspective on the interplay between epigenetic repression, L1 evolution, and genome stability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patricia Gerdes
- Mater Research Institute - University of Queensland, TRI Building, Woolloongabba, Queensland 4102, Australia
| | - Dorothy Chan
- Mater Research Institute - University of Queensland, TRI Building, Woolloongabba, Queensland 4102, Australia
| | - Mischa Lundberg
- Mater Research Institute - University of Queensland, TRI Building, Woolloongabba, Queensland 4102, Australia
- The University of Queensland Diamantina Institute, The University of Queensland, Woolloongabba, Queensland 4102, Australia
- Translational Bioinformatics, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, Sydney, New South Wales 2113, Australia
| | - Francisco J Sanchez-Luque
- Mater Research Institute - University of Queensland, TRI Building, Woolloongabba, Queensland 4102, Australia
- GENYO. Centre for Genomics and Oncological Research (Pfizer-University of Granada-Andalusian Regional Government), PTS Granada, 18016, Spain
- MRC Human Genetics Unit, Institute of Genetics and Cancer (IGC), University of Edinburgh, Western General Hospital, Edinburgh EH4 2XU, United Kingdom
| | - Gabriela O Bodea
- Mater Research Institute - University of Queensland, TRI Building, Woolloongabba, Queensland 4102, Australia
- Queensland Brain Institute, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland 4072, Australia
| | - Adam D Ewing
- Mater Research Institute - University of Queensland, TRI Building, Woolloongabba, Queensland 4102, Australia
| | - Geoffrey J Faulkner
- Mater Research Institute - University of Queensland, TRI Building, Woolloongabba, Queensland 4102, Australia;
- Queensland Brain Institute, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland 4072, Australia
| | - Sandra R Richardson
- Mater Research Institute - University of Queensland, TRI Building, Woolloongabba, Queensland 4102, Australia;
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7
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Ansaloni F, Gustincich S, Sanges R. In silico characterisation of minor wave genes and LINE-1s transcriptional dynamics at murine zygotic genome activation. Front Cell Dev Biol 2023; 11:1124266. [PMID: 37389353 PMCID: PMC10300423 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2023.1124266] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2022] [Accepted: 06/05/2023] [Indexed: 07/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction: In mouse, the zygotic genome activation (ZGA) is coordinated by MERVL elements, a class of LTR retrotransposons. In addition to MERVL, another class of retrotransposons, LINE-1 elements, recently came under the spotlight as key regulators of murine ZGA. In particular, LINE-1 transcripts seem to be required to switch-off the transcriptional program started by MERVL sequences, suggesting an antagonistic interplay between LINE-1 and MERVL pathways. Methods: To better investigate the activities of LINE-1 and MERVL elements at ZGA, we integrated publicly available transcriptomics (RNA-seq), chromatin accessibility (ATAC-seq) and Pol-II binding (Stacc-seq) datasets and characterised the transcriptional and epigenetic dynamics of such elements during murine ZGA. Results: We identified two likely distinct transcriptional activities characterising the murine zygotic genome at ZGA onset. On the one hand, our results confirmed that ZGA minor wave genes are preferentially transcribed from MERVL-rich and gene-dense genomic compartments, such as gene clusters. On the other hand, we identified a set of evolutionary young and likely transcriptionally autonomous LINE-1s located in intergenic and gene-poor regions showing, at the same stage, features such as open chromatin and RNA Pol II binding suggesting them to be, at least, poised for transcription. Discussion: These results suggest that, across evolution, transcription of two different classes of transposable elements, MERVLs and LINE-1s, have likely been confined in genic and intergenic regions respectively in order to maintain and regulate two successive transcriptional programs at ZGA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Federico Ansaloni
- Area of Neuroscience, Scuola Internazionale Superiore di Studi Avanzati (SISSA), Trieste, Italy
- Central RNA Laboratory, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia—IIT, Genova, Italy
| | - Stefano Gustincich
- Central RNA Laboratory, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia—IIT, Genova, Italy
| | - Remo Sanges
- Area of Neuroscience, Scuola Internazionale Superiore di Studi Avanzati (SISSA), Trieste, Italy
- Central RNA Laboratory, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia—IIT, Genova, Italy
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Ferraj A, Audano PA, Balachandran P, Czechanski A, Flores JI, Radecki AA, Mosur V, Gordon DS, Walawalkar IA, Eichler EE, Reinholdt LG, Beck CR. Resolution of structural variation in diverse mouse genomes reveals chromatin remodeling due to transposable elements. CELL GENOMICS 2023; 3:100291. [PMID: 37228752 PMCID: PMC10203049 DOI: 10.1016/j.xgen.2023.100291] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 22.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2022] [Revised: 02/03/2023] [Accepted: 03/10/2023] [Indexed: 05/25/2023]
Abstract
Diverse inbred mouse strains are important biomedical research models, yet genome characterization of many strains is fundamentally lacking in comparison with humans. In particular, catalogs of structural variants (SVs) (variants ≥ 50 bp) are incomplete, limiting the discovery of causative alleles for phenotypic variation. Here, we resolve genome-wide SVs in 20 genetically distinct inbred mice with long-read sequencing. We report 413,758 site-specific SVs affecting 13% (356 Mbp) of the mouse reference assembly, including 510 previously unannotated coding variants. We substantially improve the Mus musculus transposable element (TE) callset, and we find that TEs comprise 39% of SVs and account for 75% of altered bases. We further utilize this callset to investigate how TE heterogeneity affects mouse embryonic stem cells and find multiple TE classes that influence chromatin accessibility. Our work provides a comprehensive analysis of SVs found in diverse mouse genomes and illustrates the role of TEs in epigenetic differences.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ardian Ferraj
- Department of Genetics and Genome Sciences, University of Connecticut Health Center, Farmington, CT 06032, USA
- The Jackson Laboratory for Genomic Medicine, Farmington, CT 06032, USA
| | - Peter A. Audano
- The Jackson Laboratory for Genomic Medicine, Farmington, CT 06032, USA
| | | | | | - Jacob I. Flores
- The Jackson Laboratory for Genomic Medicine, Farmington, CT 06032, USA
| | - Alexander A. Radecki
- Department of Genetics and Genome Sciences, University of Connecticut Health Center, Farmington, CT 06032, USA
- The Jackson Laboratory for Genomic Medicine, Farmington, CT 06032, USA
| | - Varun Mosur
- The Jackson Laboratory for Genomic Medicine, Farmington, CT 06032, USA
| | - David S. Gordon
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute and Department of Genome Sciences, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
| | - Isha A. Walawalkar
- Department of Genetics and Genome Sciences, University of Connecticut Health Center, Farmington, CT 06032, USA
- The Jackson Laboratory for Genomic Medicine, Farmington, CT 06032, USA
| | - Evan E. Eichler
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute and Department of Genome Sciences, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
| | | | - Christine R. Beck
- Department of Genetics and Genome Sciences, University of Connecticut Health Center, Farmington, CT 06032, USA
- The Jackson Laboratory for Genomic Medicine, Farmington, CT 06032, USA
- Institute for Systems Genomics, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT 06269, USA
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9
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Kong L, Saha K, Hu Y, Tschetter JN, Habben CE, Whitmore LS, Yao C, Ge X, Ye P, Newkirk SJ, An W. Subfamily-specific differential contribution of individual monomers and the tether sequence to mouse L1 promoter activity. Mob DNA 2022; 13:13. [PMID: 35443687 PMCID: PMC9022269 DOI: 10.1186/s13100-022-00269-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2021] [Accepted: 03/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The internal promoter in L1 5'UTR is critical for autonomous L1 transcription and initiating retrotransposition. Unlike the human genome, which features one contemporarily active subfamily, four subfamilies (A_I, Gf_I and Tf_I/II) have been amplifying in the mouse genome in the last one million years. Moreover, mouse L1 5'UTRs are organized into tandem repeats called monomers, which are separated from ORF1 by a tether domain. In this study, we aim to compare promoter activities across young mouse L1 subfamilies and investigate the contribution of individual monomers and the tether sequence. RESULTS We observed an inverse relationship between subfamily age and the average number of monomers among evolutionarily young mouse L1 subfamilies. The youngest subgroup (A_I and Tf_I/II) on average carry 3-4 monomers in the 5'UTR. Using a single-vector dual-luciferase reporter assay, we compared promoter activities across six L1 subfamilies (A_I/II, Gf_I and Tf_I/II/III) and established their antisense promoter activities in a mouse embryonic fibroblast cell line and a mouse embryonal carcinoma cell line. Using consensus promoter sequences for three subfamilies (A_I, Gf_I and Tf_I), we dissected the differential roles of individual monomers and the tether domain in L1 promoter activity. We validated that, across multiple subfamilies, the second monomer consistently enhances the overall promoter activity. For individual promoter components, monomer 2 is consistently more active than the corresponding monomer 1 and/or the tether for each subfamily. Importantly, we revealed intricate interactions between monomer 2, monomer 1 and tether domains in a subfamily-specific manner. Furthermore, using three-monomer 5'UTRs, we established a complex nonlinear relationship between the length of the outmost monomer and the overall promoter activity. CONCLUSIONS The laboratory mouse is an important mammalian model system for human diseases as well as L1 biology. Our study extends previous findings and represents an important step toward a better understanding of the molecular mechanism controlling mouse L1 transcription as well as L1's impact on development and disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lingqi Kong
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, South Dakota State University, Brookings, SD, 57007, USA
| | - Karabi Saha
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, South Dakota State University, Brookings, SD, 57007, USA
| | - Yuchi Hu
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, South Dakota State University, Brookings, SD, 57007, USA
| | - Jada N Tschetter
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, South Dakota State University, Brookings, SD, 57007, USA
| | - Chase E Habben
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, South Dakota State University, Brookings, SD, 57007, USA
| | - Leanne S Whitmore
- Department of Immunology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, 98109, USA
| | - Changfeng Yao
- Anhui University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Hefei, 230012, Anhui, China
| | - Xijin Ge
- Department of Mathematics & Statistics, South Dakota State University, Brookings, SD, 57007, USA
| | - Ping Ye
- Department of Pharmacy Practice, South Dakota State University, Brookings, SD, 57007, USA
| | - Simon J Newkirk
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, South Dakota State University, Brookings, SD, 57007, USA
| | - Wenfeng An
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, South Dakota State University, Brookings, SD, 57007, USA.
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10
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Valdebenito-Maturana B, Arancibia E, Riadi G, Tapia JC, Carrasco M. Locus-specific analysis of Transposable Elements during the progression of ALS in the SOD1G93A mouse model. PLoS One 2021; 16:e0258291. [PMID: 34614020 PMCID: PMC8494334 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0258291] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2021] [Accepted: 09/24/2021] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Transposable Elements (TEs) are ubiquitous genetic elements with the ability to move within a genome. TEs contribute to a large fraction of the repetitive elements of a genome, and because of their nature, they are not routinely analyzed in RNA-Seq gene expression studies. Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) is a lethal neurodegenerative disease, and a well-accepted model for its study is the mouse harboring the human SOD1G93A mutant. In this model, landmark stages of the disease can be recapitulated at specific time points, making possible to understand changes in gene expression across time. While there are several works reporting TE activity in ALS models, they have not explored their activity through the disease progression. Moreover, they have done it at the expense of losing their locus of expression. Depending on their genomic location, TEs can regulate genes in cis and in trans, making locus-specific analysis of TEs of importance in order to understand their role in modulating gene expression. Particularly, the locus-specific role of TEs in ALS has not been fully elucidated. In this work, we analyzed publicly available RNA-Seq datasets of the SOD1G93A mouse model, to understand the locus-specific role of TEs. We show that TEs become up-regulated at the early stages of the disease, and via statistical associations, we speculate that they can regulate several genes, which in turn might be contributing to the genetic dysfunction observed in ALS.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Esteban Arancibia
- Centre for Bioinformatics, Simulation and Modelling, CBSM, Department of Bioinformatics, Faculty of Engineering, University of Talca, Talca, Chile
| | - Gonzalo Riadi
- ANID – Millennium Science Initiative Program Millennium Nucleus of Ion Channels-Associated Diseases (MiNICAD), Centre for Bioinformatics, Simulation and Modelling, CBSM, Department of Bioinformatics, Faculty of Engineering, University of Talca, Talca, Chile
| | - Juan Carlos Tapia
- School of Medicine, Universidad de Talca, Talca, Chile
- * E-mail: (JCT); (MC)
| | - Mónica Carrasco
- School of Medicine, Universidad de Talca, Talca, Chile
- * E-mail: (JCT); (MC)
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11
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Hermant C, Torres-Padilla ME. TFs for TEs: the transcription factor repertoire of mammalian transposable elements. Genes Dev 2021; 35:22-39. [PMID: 33397727 PMCID: PMC7778262 DOI: 10.1101/gad.344473.120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
In this review, Hermant and Torres-Padilla summarize and discuss the transcription factors known to be involved in the sequence-specific recognition and transcriptional activation of specific transposable element families or subfamilies. Transposable elements (TEs) are genetic elements capable of changing position within the genome. Although their mobilization can constitute a threat to genome integrity, nearly half of modern mammalian genomes are composed of remnants of TE insertions. The first critical step for a successful transposition cycle is the generation of a full-length transcript. TEs have evolved cis-regulatory elements enabling them to recruit host-encoded factors driving their own, selfish transcription. TEs are generally transcriptionally silenced in somatic cells, and the mechanisms underlying their repression have been extensively studied. However, during germline formation, preimplantation development, and tumorigenesis, specific TE families are highly expressed. Understanding the molecular players at stake in these contexts is of utmost importance to establish the mechanisms regulating TEs, as well as the importance of their transcription to the biology of the host. Here, we review the transcription factors known to be involved in the sequence-specific recognition and transcriptional activation of specific TE families or subfamilies. We discuss the diversity of TE regulatory elements within mammalian genomes and highlight the importance of TE mobilization in the dispersal of transcription factor-binding sites over the course of evolution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Clara Hermant
- Institute of Epigenetics and Stem Cells (IES), Helmholtz Zentrum München, D-81377 München, Germany
| | - Maria-Elena Torres-Padilla
- Institute of Epigenetics and Stem Cells (IES), Helmholtz Zentrum München, D-81377 München, Germany.,Faculty of Biology, Ludwig-Maximilians Universität München, D-82152 Planegg-Martinsried, Germany
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12
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Chen Y, Ding X, Wang S, Ding P, Xu Z, Li J, Wang M, Xiang R, Wang X, Wang H, Feng Q, Qiu J, Wang F, Huang Z, Zhang X, Tang G, Tang S. A single-cell atlas of mouse olfactory bulb chromatin accessibility. J Genet Genomics 2021; 48:147-162. [PMID: 33926839 DOI: 10.1016/j.jgg.2021.02.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/06/2020] [Revised: 01/26/2021] [Accepted: 02/01/2021] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
Olfaction, the sense of smell, is a fundamental trait crucial to many species. The olfactory bulb (OB) plays pivotal roles in processing and transmitting odor information from the environment to the brain. The cellular heterogeneity of the mouse OB has been studied using single-cell RNA sequencing. However, the epigenetic landscape of the mOB remains mostly unexplored. Herein, we apply single-cell assay for transposase-accessible chromatin sequencing to profile the genome-wide chromatin accessibility of 9,549 single cells from the mOB. Based on single-cell epigenetic signatures, mOB cells are classified into 21 clusters corresponding to 11 cell types. We identify distinct sets of putative regulatory elements specific to each cell cluster from which putative target genes and enriched potential functions are inferred. In addition, the transcription factor motifs enriched in each cell cluster are determined to indicate the developmental fate of each cell lineage. Our study provides a valuable epigenetic data set for the mOB at single-cell resolution, and the results can enhance our understanding of regulatory circuits and the therapeutic capacity of the OB at the single-cell level.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yin Chen
- BGI Education Center, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen 518083, China; BGI-Shenzhen, Shenzhen 518083, China
| | - Xiangning Ding
- BGI Education Center, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen 518083, China; BGI-Shenzhen, Shenzhen 518083, China
| | - Shiyou Wang
- BGI Education Center, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen 518083, China; BGI-Shenzhen, Shenzhen 518083, China
| | - Peiwen Ding
- BGI Education Center, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen 518083, China; BGI-Shenzhen, Shenzhen 518083, China
| | - Zaoxu Xu
- BGI Education Center, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen 518083, China; BGI-Shenzhen, Shenzhen 518083, China
| | - Jiankang Li
- BGI Education Center, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen 518083, China
| | - Mingyue Wang
- BGI Education Center, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen 518083, China; BGI-Shenzhen, Shenzhen 518083, China
| | - Rong Xiang
- BGI Education Center, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen 518083, China; BGI-Shenzhen, Shenzhen 518083, China
| | - Xiaoling Wang
- BGI Education Center, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen 518083, China; BGI-Shenzhen, Shenzhen 518083, China
| | - Haoyu Wang
- BGI Education Center, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen 518083, China; BGI-Shenzhen, Shenzhen 518083, China
| | - Qikai Feng
- BGI Education Center, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen 518083, China; BGI-Shenzhen, Shenzhen 518083, China
| | - Jiaying Qiu
- BGI Education Center, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen 518083, China; BGI-Shenzhen, Shenzhen 518083, China
| | - Feiyue Wang
- BGI Education Center, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen 518083, China; BGI-Shenzhen, Shenzhen 518083, China; School of Biological Science & Medical Engineering, Southeast University, Nanjing 210096, China
| | - Zhen Huang
- Southern Center for Biomedical Research and Fujian Key Laboratory of Developmental and Neural Biology, College of Life Sciences, Fujian Normal University, Fuzhou, Fujian 350117, China
| | - Xingliang Zhang
- Shenzhen Children's Hospital, Shenzhen 518083, China; Department of Pediatrics, the Affiliated Hospital of Guangdong Medical University, Zhanjiang 524000, China.
| | - Gen Tang
- Shenzhen Children's Hospital, Shenzhen 518083, China.
| | - Shengping Tang
- Shenzhen Children's Hospital, Shenzhen 518083, China; Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi, Guizhou 563099, China; China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning 110122, China.
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13
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Nohara K, Nakabayashi K, Okamura K, Suzuki T, Suzuki S, Hata K. Gestational arsenic exposure induces site-specific DNA hypomethylation in active retrotransposon subfamilies in offspring sperm in mice. Epigenetics Chromatin 2020; 13:53. [PMID: 33267854 PMCID: PMC7709384 DOI: 10.1186/s13072-020-00375-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2020] [Accepted: 11/12/2020] [Indexed: 01/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Environmental impacts on a fetus can disrupt germ cell development leading to epimutations in mature germ cells. Paternal inheritance of adverse health effects through sperm epigenomes, including DNA methylomes, has been recognized in human and animal studies. However, the impacts of gestational exposure to a variety of environmental factors on the germ cell epigenomes are not fully investigated. Arsenic, a naturally occurring contaminant, is one of the most concerning environmental chemicals, that is causing serious health problems, including an increase in cancer, in highly contaminated areas worldwide. We previously showed that gestational arsenic exposure of pregnant C3H mice paternally induces hepatic tumor increase in the second generation (F2). In the present study, we have investigated the F1 sperm DNA methylomes genome-widely by one-base resolution analysis using a reduced representation bisulfite sequencing (RRBS) method. Results We have clarified that gestational arsenic exposure increases hypomethylated cytosines in all the chromosomes and they are significantly overrepresented in the retrotransposon LINEs and LTRs, predominantly in the intergenic regions. Closer analyses of detailed annotated DNA sequences showed that hypomethylated cytosines are especially accumulated in the promoter regions of the active full-length L1MdA subfamily in LINEs, and 5′LTRs of the active IAPE subfamily in LTRs. This is the first report that has identified the specific positions of methylomes altered in the retrotransposon elements by environmental exposure, by genome-wide methylome analysis. Conclusion Lowered DNA methylation potentially enhances L1MdA retrotransposition and cryptic promoter activity of 5′LTR for coding genes and non-coding RNAs. The present study has illuminated the environmental impacts on sperm DNA methylome establishment that can lead to augmented retrotransposon activities in germ cells and can cause harmful effects in the following generation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Keiko Nohara
- Center for Health and Environmental Risk Research, National Institute for Environmental Studies, Tsukuba, 305-8506, Japan.
| | - Kazuhiko Nakabayashi
- Department of Maternal-Fetal Biology, National Center for Child Health and Development, Tokyo, 157-8535, Japan
| | - Kazuyuki Okamura
- Center for Health and Environmental Risk Research, National Institute for Environmental Studies, Tsukuba, 305-8506, Japan
| | - Takehiro Suzuki
- Center for Health and Environmental Risk Research, National Institute for Environmental Studies, Tsukuba, 305-8506, Japan
| | - Shigekatsu Suzuki
- Center for Environmental Biology and Ecosystem Studies, National Institute for Environmental Studies, Tsukuba, 305-8506, Japan
| | - Kenichiro Hata
- Department of Maternal-Fetal Biology, National Center for Child Health and Development, Tokyo, 157-8535, Japan
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14
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Cusack M, King HW, Spingardi P, Kessler BM, Klose RJ, Kriaucionis S. Distinct contributions of DNA methylation and histone acetylation to the genomic occupancy of transcription factors. Genome Res 2020; 30:1393-1406. [PMID: 32963030 PMCID: PMC7605266 DOI: 10.1101/gr.257576.119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2019] [Accepted: 08/21/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Epigenetic modifications on chromatin play important roles in regulating gene expression. Although chromatin states are often governed by multilayered structure, how individual pathways contribute to gene expression remains poorly understood. For example, DNA methylation is known to regulate transcription factor binding but also to recruit methyl-CpG binding proteins that affect chromatin structure through the activity of histone deacetylase complexes (HDACs). Both of these mechanisms can potentially affect gene expression, but the importance of each, and whether these activities are integrated to achieve appropriate gene regulation, remains largely unknown. To address this important question, we measured gene expression, chromatin accessibility, and transcription factor occupancy in wild-type or DNA methylation-deficient mouse embryonic stem cells following HDAC inhibition. We observe widespread increases in chromatin accessibility at retrotransposons when HDACs are inhibited, and this is magnified when cells also lack DNA methylation. A subset of these elements has elevated binding of the YY1 and GABPA transcription factors and increased expression. The pronounced additive effect of HDAC inhibition in DNA methylation-deficient cells demonstrates that DNA methylation and histone deacetylation act largely independently to suppress transcription factor binding and gene expression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martin Cusack
- Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, University of Oxford, Oxford, OX3 7DQ, United Kingdom
| | - Hamish W King
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Oxford, Oxford, OX1 3QU, United Kingdom
| | - Paolo Spingardi
- Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, University of Oxford, Oxford, OX3 7DQ, United Kingdom
| | - Benedikt M Kessler
- Target Discovery Institute, University of Oxford, Oxford, OX3 7FZ, United Kingdom
| | - Robert J Klose
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Oxford, Oxford, OX1 3QU, United Kingdom
| | - Skirmantas Kriaucionis
- Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, University of Oxford, Oxford, OX3 7DQ, United Kingdom;
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15
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Wang J, Huang J, Shi G. Retrotransposons in pluripotent stem cells. CELL REGENERATION 2020; 9:4. [PMID: 32588192 PMCID: PMC7306833 DOI: 10.1186/s13619-020-00046-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2019] [Accepted: 12/19/2019] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Transposable elements constitute about half of the mammalian genome, and can be divided into two classes: the class I (retrotransposons) and the class II (DNA transposons). A few hundred types of retrotransposons, which are dynamic and stage specific, have been annotated. The copy numbers and genomic locations are significantly varied in species. Retrotransposons are active in germ cells, early embryos and pluripotent stem cells (PSCs) correlated with low levels of DNA methylation in epigenetic regulation. Some key pluripotency transcriptional factors (such as OCT4, SOX2, and NANOG) bind retrotransposons and regulate their activities in PSCs, suggesting a vital role of retrotransposons in pluripotency maintenance and self-renewal. In response to retrotransposons transposition, cells employ a number of silencing mechanisms, such as DNA methylation and histone modification. This review summarizes expression patterns, functions, and regulation of retrotransposons in PSCs and early embryonic development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jingwen Wang
- School of Life Sciences, SunYat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510275, P. R. China
| | - Junjiu Huang
- School of Life Sciences, SunYat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510275, P. R. China. .,Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine of Guangdong Province, School of Life Sciences and the First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510275, China. .,Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine of Guangdong Province, Third Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, 510150, China.
| | - Guang Shi
- School of Life Sciences, SunYat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510275, P. R. China.
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