The transcription factor SRF regulates MERVL retrotransposons and gene expression during zygotic genome activation.
    
    
        
    
    
        
        Genes Dev. 39, 490-509 (2025)
    
    
    
		
		
			
				The regulatory circuitry of cell-specific transcriptional programs is thought to be influenced by transposable elements (TEs), whereby TEs serve as raw material for the diversification and genome-wide distribution of genetic elements that contain cis-regulatory activity. However, the transcriptional activators of TEs in relevant physiological contexts are largely unknown. Here, we undertook an evolutionary approach to identify regulators of two main families of MERVL, a major regulator of transcription during early mouse development. Using a combination of phyloregulatory, transcriptomic, and loss-of-function approaches, we demonstrate that SRF is a novel regulator of MERVL and embryonic transcription during zygotic genome activation. By resolving the phylogenetic history of two major MERVL families, we delineate the evolutionary acquisition of SRF and DUX binding sites and show that the acquisition of the SRF site precedes that of DUX. SRF contributes to embryonic transcription through the regulation of MERVLs, which in turn serve as promoters for host genes. Our work identifies new transcriptional regulators and TEs that shape the gene expression programs in early embryos and highlights the process of TE domestication via the sequential acquisition of transcription factor binding sites and coevolution with the host.
			
			
				
			
		 
		
			
				
					
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        Publikationstyp
        Artikel: Journalartikel
    
 
    
        Dokumenttyp
        Wissenschaftlicher Artikel
    
 
    
        Typ der Hochschulschrift
        
    
 
    
        Herausgeber
        
    
    
        Schlagwörter
        Mervl ; Mouse Embryos ; Retrotransposons ; Transcription; Serum Response Factor; Binding Microarray Data; C-fos Gene; Transposable Elements; Rna-seq; Online Database; Muerv-l; Mouse; Chromatin; Evolution
    
 
    
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        Sprache
        englisch
    
 
    
        Veröffentlichungsjahr
        2025
    
 
    
        Prepublished im Jahr 
        0
    
 
    
        HGF-Berichtsjahr
        2025
    
 
    
    
        ISSN (print) / ISBN
        0890-9369
    
 
    
        e-ISSN
        1549-5477
    
 
    
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	    Band: 39,  
	    Heft: 7-8,  
	    Seiten: 490-509 
	    Artikelnummer: ,  
	    Supplement: ,  
	
    
 
  
        
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            Verlag
            Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press
        
 
        
            Verlagsort
            1 Bungtown Rd, Cold Spring Harbor, Ny 11724 Usa
        
 
	
        
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        Begutachtungsstatus
        Peer reviewed
    
 
     
    
        POF Topic(s)
        30204 - Cell Programming and Repair
    
 
    
        Forschungsfeld(er)
        Stem Cell and Neuroscience
    
 
    
        PSP-Element(e)
        G-506200-001
    
 
    
        Förderungen
        National University of Mexico
EMBO
German Research Foundation (DFG)
Helmholtz Association
Helmholtz Association http://dx.doi.org/10.13039/501100009318
    
 
    
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        Erfassungsdatum
        2025-03-17