Enigma of Retrotransposon Biology in Mammalian Early Embryos and Embryonic Stem Cells
Retrotransposons comprise a significant fraction of mammalian genome with unclear functions. Increasing evidence shows that they are not just remnants of ancient retroviruses but play important roles in multiple biological processes. Retrotransposons are epigenetically silenced in most somatic tissu...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Wiley
2018-01-01
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| Series: | Stem Cells International |
| Online Access: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2018/6239245 |
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| _version_ | 1832556421176098816 |
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| author | Ying Yin Liquan Zhou Shuiqiao Yuan |
| author_facet | Ying Yin Liquan Zhou Shuiqiao Yuan |
| author_sort | Ying Yin |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Retrotransposons comprise a significant fraction of mammalian genome with unclear functions. Increasing evidence shows that they are not just remnants of ancient retroviruses but play important roles in multiple biological processes. Retrotransposons are epigenetically silenced in most somatic tissues and become reactivated in early embryos. Notably, abundant retrotransposon expression in mouse embryonic stem cells (ESCs) marks transient totipotency status, while retrotransposon enrichment in human ESCs indicates naive-like status. Some retrotransposon elements retained the capacity to retrotranspose, such as LINE1, producing genetic diversity or disease. Some other retrotransposons reside in the vicinity of endogenous genes and are capable of regulating nearby genes and cell fate, possibly through providing alternative promoters, regulatory modules, or orchestrating high-order chromatin assembly. In addition, retrotransposons may mediate epigenetic memory, regulate gene expression posttranscriptionally, defend virus infection, and so on. In this review, we summarize expression patterns and regulatory functions of different retrotransposons in early embryos and ESCs, as well as document molecular mechanisms controlling retrotransposon expression and their potential functions. Further investigations on the regulatory network of retrotransposons in early embryogenesis and ESCs will provide valuable insights and a deeper understanding of retrotransposon biology. Additionally, endeavors made to unveil the roles of these mysterious elements may facilitate stem cell status conversion and manipulation of pluripotency. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-01eb07051bd4491cb45ce4d10e54172b |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1687-966X 1687-9678 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2018-01-01 |
| publisher | Wiley |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Stem Cells International |
| spelling | doaj-art-01eb07051bd4491cb45ce4d10e54172b2025-02-03T05:45:25ZengWileyStem Cells International1687-966X1687-96782018-01-01201810.1155/2018/62392456239245Enigma of Retrotransposon Biology in Mammalian Early Embryos and Embryonic Stem CellsYing Yin0Liquan Zhou1Shuiqiao Yuan2Craniofacial and Skeletal Diseases Branch, NIDCR, NIH, Bethesda, MD, USAFamily Planning Research Institute, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, ChinaFamily Planning Research Institute, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, ChinaRetrotransposons comprise a significant fraction of mammalian genome with unclear functions. Increasing evidence shows that they are not just remnants of ancient retroviruses but play important roles in multiple biological processes. Retrotransposons are epigenetically silenced in most somatic tissues and become reactivated in early embryos. Notably, abundant retrotransposon expression in mouse embryonic stem cells (ESCs) marks transient totipotency status, while retrotransposon enrichment in human ESCs indicates naive-like status. Some retrotransposon elements retained the capacity to retrotranspose, such as LINE1, producing genetic diversity or disease. Some other retrotransposons reside in the vicinity of endogenous genes and are capable of regulating nearby genes and cell fate, possibly through providing alternative promoters, regulatory modules, or orchestrating high-order chromatin assembly. In addition, retrotransposons may mediate epigenetic memory, regulate gene expression posttranscriptionally, defend virus infection, and so on. In this review, we summarize expression patterns and regulatory functions of different retrotransposons in early embryos and ESCs, as well as document molecular mechanisms controlling retrotransposon expression and their potential functions. Further investigations on the regulatory network of retrotransposons in early embryogenesis and ESCs will provide valuable insights and a deeper understanding of retrotransposon biology. Additionally, endeavors made to unveil the roles of these mysterious elements may facilitate stem cell status conversion and manipulation of pluripotency.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2018/6239245 |
| spellingShingle | Ying Yin Liquan Zhou Shuiqiao Yuan Enigma of Retrotransposon Biology in Mammalian Early Embryos and Embryonic Stem Cells Stem Cells International |
| title | Enigma of Retrotransposon Biology in Mammalian Early Embryos and Embryonic Stem Cells |
| title_full | Enigma of Retrotransposon Biology in Mammalian Early Embryos and Embryonic Stem Cells |
| title_fullStr | Enigma of Retrotransposon Biology in Mammalian Early Embryos and Embryonic Stem Cells |
| title_full_unstemmed | Enigma of Retrotransposon Biology in Mammalian Early Embryos and Embryonic Stem Cells |
| title_short | Enigma of Retrotransposon Biology in Mammalian Early Embryos and Embryonic Stem Cells |
| title_sort | enigma of retrotransposon biology in mammalian early embryos and embryonic stem cells |
| url | http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2018/6239245 |
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