Embryonic LTR retrotransposons supply promoter modules to somatic tissues.
Genome Res
; 31(11): 1983-1993, 2021 11.
Article
em En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-34675070
ABSTRACT
Long terminal repeat (LTR) retrotransposons are widely distributed across the human genome. They have accumulated through retroviral integration into germline DNA and are latent genetic modules. Active LTR promoters are observed in germline cells; however, little is known about the mechanisms underlying their active transcription in somatic tissues. Here, by integrating our previous transcriptome data set with publicly available data sets, we show that the LTR families MLT2A1 and MLT2A2 are primarily expressed in human four-cell and eight-cell embryos and are also activated in some adult somatic tissues, particularly pineal gland. Three MLT2A elements function as the promoters and first exons of the protein-coding genes ABCE1, COL5A1, and GALNT13 specifically in the pineal gland of humans but not in that of macaques, suggesting that the exaptation of these LTRs as promoters occurred during recent primate evolution. This analysis provides insight into the possible transition from germline insertion to somatic expression of LTR retrotransposons.
Texto completo:
1
Coleções:
01-internacional
Base de dados:
MEDLINE
Assunto principal:
Retroelementos
/
Sequências Repetidas Terminais
Limite:
Animals
Idioma:
En
Revista:
Genome Res
Assunto da revista:
BIOLOGIA MOLECULAR
/
GENETICA
Ano de publicação:
2021
Tipo de documento:
Article
País de afiliação:
Japão