Transposable elements in the mammalian embryo: pioneers surviving through stealth and service

Transposable elements (TEs) are notable drivers of genetic innovation. Over evolutionary time, TE insertions can supply new promoter, enhancer, and insulator elements to protein-coding genes and establish novel, species-specific gene regulatory networks. Conversely, ongoing TE-driven insertional mut...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Genome Biology 2016-05, Vol.17 (1), p.100-100, Article 100
Main Authors: Gerdes, Patricia, Richardson, Sandra R, Mager, Dixie L, Faulkner, Geoffrey J
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animals
Cell Differentiation - genetics
Deoxyribonucleic acid
DNA
DNA methylation
DNA Transposable Elements
Embryonic Development - genetics
Embryos
Endogenous Retroviruses - genetics
Epigenetics
Evolution
Gene expression
Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental
Genes
Genomes
Genomics
Humans
Insertional mutagenesis
Leukemia
Mammals
Mutation
Pluripotency
Polymorphism
Proteins
Recombination
Review
Stem cells
Viruses
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Summary:Transposable elements (TEs) are notable drivers of genetic innovation. Over evolutionary time, TE insertions can supply new promoter, enhancer, and insulator elements to protein-coding genes and establish novel, species-specific gene regulatory networks. Conversely, ongoing TE-driven insertional mutagenesis, nonhomologous recombination, and other potentially deleterious processes can cause sporadic disease by disrupting genome integrity or inducing abrupt gene expression changes. Here, we discuss recent evidence suggesting that TEs may contribute regulatory innovation to mammalian embryonic and pluripotent states as a means to ward off complete repression by their host genome.
ISSN:1474-760X
1474-7596
1474-760X
DOI:10.1186/s13059-016-0965-5