Endogenous retroviruses drive species-specific germline transcriptomes in mammals.
Nat Struct Mol Biol
; 27(10): 967-977, 2020 10.
Article
em En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-32895553
ABSTRACT
Gene regulation in the germline ensures the production of high-quality gametes, long-term maintenance of the species and speciation. Male germline transcriptomes undergo dynamic changes after the mitosis-to-meiosis transition and have been subject to evolutionary divergence among mammals. However, the mechanisms underlying germline regulatory divergence remain undetermined. Here, we show that endogenous retroviruses (ERVs) influence species-specific germline transcriptomes. After the mitosis-to-meiosis transition in male mice, specific ERVs function as active enhancers to drive germline genes, including a mouse-specific gene set, and bear binding motifs for critical regulators of spermatogenesis, such as A-MYB. This raises the possibility that a genome-wide transposition of ERVs rewired germline gene expression in a species-specific manner. Of note, independently evolved ERVs are associated with the expression of human-specific germline genes, demonstrating the prevalence of ERV-driven mechanisms in mammals. Together, we propose that ERVs fine-tune species-specific transcriptomes in the mammalian germline.
Texto completo:
1
Base de dados:
MEDLINE
Assunto principal:
Espermatogênese
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Espermatozoides
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Retrovirus Endógenos
Tipo de estudo:
Risk_factors_studies
Limite:
Animals
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Humans
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Male
Idioma:
En
Ano de publicação:
2020
Tipo de documento:
Article