AUTHOR=Schoorlemmer Jon , Pérez-Palacios Raquel , Climent Maria , Guallar Diana , Muniesa Pedro 

TITLE=Regulation of Mouse Retroelement MuERV-L/MERVL Expression by REX1 and Epigenetic Control of Stem Cell Potency

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Oncology

VOLUME=Volume 4 - 2014

YEAR=2014

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/oncology/articles/10.3389/fonc.2014.00014

DOI=10.3389/fonc.2014.00014

ISSN=2234-943X

ABSTRACT=About half of mammalian genomes is occupied by DNA sequences that originate<br/>from transposable elements. Retrotransposons can modulate gene expression in<br/>different ways and, particularly retrotransposon-derived LTRs, profoundly shape<br/>expression of both surrounding and distant genomic loci. This is especially important in<br/>preimplantation development, during which extensive reprogramming of the genome<br/>takes place and cells pass through totipotent and pluripotent states. At this stage, the<br/>main mechanisms responsible for retrotransposon silencing i.e. DNA methylation, is<br/>inoperative. A particular retrotransposon called muERV-L/MERVL is expressed during<br/>preimplantation stages and contributes to the plasticity of mouse embryonic stem cells.<br/>This review will focus on the role of MERVL-derived sequences as controlling<br/>elements of gene expression specific for preimplantation development, two-cell stage<br/>specific gene expression and stem cell pluripotency, the epigenetic mechanisms that<br/>control their expression, and the contributions of the pluripotency marker REX1 and the<br/>related YY1 family of transcription factors to this regulation process.