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Updated: Jun 3, 2025

Combined Immunofluorescence and DNA FISH on 3D-preserved Interphase Nuclei to Study Changes in 3D Nuclear Organization
Published on: February 3, 2013
LINE-1, the NORth star of nucleolar organization
Misaki Matsuo1, Gael Cristofari1
1Institute for Research on Cancer and Aging of Nice (IRCAN), Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale (INSERM), Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), University Cote d'Azur, Nice 06107, France gael.cristofari@univ-cotedazur.fr misaki.matsuo@univ-cotedazur.fr.
Abstract:
Long interspersed element-1 (LINE-1) retrotransposons are abundant transposable elements in mammals and significantly influence chromosome structure, chromatin organization, and 3D genome architecture. In this issue of Genes & Development, Ataei et al. (doi:10.1101/gad.351979.124) identify a homininae-specific LINE-1 element within nucleolar organizer regions (NORs) that is specifically transcribed in naïve human embryonic stem cells. Deletion or silencing of this element disrupts nucleolar organization and function and alters cellular identity. These findings provide novel insights into the role of retrotransposons in genome organization and suggest that individual LINE-1 elements may have evolved specialized roles.
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