Transposable elements as dynamic regulators of skeletal muscle development, regeneration and aging

Area of Science:

• Genomics
• Molecular Biology
• Skeletal Muscle Biology

Background:

• Transposable elements (TEs) comprise a significant portion of mammalian genomes.
• Historically dismissed as "junk" DNA, TEs are increasingly recognized for their functional roles.
• Advances in omics technologies facilitate the study of TEs and their genomic impact.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the classification, structure, regulation, and annotation of transposable elements.
• To explore the functional implications of TEs in gene networks and cell fate.
• To focus on the role of TEs in skeletal muscle development, regeneration, and aging.

Main Methods:

• Review of existing literature on transposable elements.
• Analysis of omics data for TE capture and annotation.
• Examination of TEs expression patterns in skeletal muscle tissues.

Main Results:

• TEs function as regulatory elements and non-coding RNAs, influencing cellular processes.
• Contrary to previous beliefs, TEs are transcriptionally active in various somatic tissues.
• TEs show stage-specific expression during muscle development and are linked to muscle diseases.
• Aging muscle exhibits increased TE transcription and chromatin accessibility.

Conclusions:

• Transposable elements play crucial roles in skeletal muscle biology, from development to aging.
• Understanding TEs offers insights into muscle development and age-related functional decline.
• TEs are dynamic genomic components with significant functional implications in mammals.