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Updated: Jan 31, 2026
10:59
Human Blastocyst Biopsy and Vitrification
Published on: July 26, 2019
23.6K
RNA element discovery from germ cell to blastocyst.
Molly S Estill1, Russ Hauser2,3, Stephen A Krawetz1,4
1Center for Molecular Medicine and Genetics, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI 48201, USA.
Nucleic Acids Research
|December 22, 2018
Summary
Researchers discovered novel human RNAs transcribed from previously unannotated genome regions using the RNA Element (RE) discovery algorithm (REDa). These findings reveal extensive transcription during development and spermatogenesis, impacting chromatin regulation.
Area of Science:
- Genomics
- Molecular Biology
- Developmental Biology
Background:
- Tissue-specific transcriptomes reveal RNA transcribed from intronic and intergenic regions.
- Understanding these unannotated sequences is crucial for a complete genomic picture.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop and apply a tool for discovering transcribed, unannotated sequence elements from RNA-seq data.
- To investigate genome-wide transcription patterns during human development and spermatogenesis.
Main Methods:
- Development of the RNA Element (RE) discovery algorithm (REDa).
- Application of REDa to diverse germline, embryonic, and somatic tissues.
- Analysis of REs during human development and spermatogenesis, including X-chromosome and repetitive elements.
Main Results:
- Extensive genome-wide transcription identified, including novel human spermatogenic RNAs.
- X-chromosome REs undergo meiotic sex chromosome inactivation and post-meiotic de-repression.
- 2.4% of X-chromosome exonic REs were found in mature sperm; repetitive sequences (HERVE, HSAT1) associated with RE expression during spermatogenesis.
Conclusions:
- Pervasive intergenic repetitive sequence expression during spermatogenesis may regulate chromatin dynamics.
- Repetitive REs exhibit dynamic changes in repeat classes during fertilization and embryonic genome activation.
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