Transposable Elements in Gene Regulation and Evolution (Marco Trizzino)

<p class="md-end-block md-p">In this episode of the Epigenetics Podcast, we caught up with Marco Trizzino from Thomas Jefferson University to talk about his work on transposable elements in gene regulation and evolution. </p> <p class="md-end-block md-p md-focus">Marco Trizzino and his team focus on characterising transposable elements and how they affect gene regulation, evolution and ageing in primates. They could show that transposable elements that integrated into the genome turned into regulatory elements in the genome, like enhancers. They then contribute to regulation of processes like development or ageing, which could be among those factors that lead to increased brain development or longevity in great apes. </p> <p class="md-end-block md-p"> </p> <p class="md-end-block md-p">References</p> <ul class="ul-list"><li class="md-list-item"> <p class="md-end-block md-p">Trizzino M, Park Y, Holsbach-Beltrame M, Aracena K, Mika K, Caliskan M, Perry GH, Lynch VJ, Brown CD. Transposable elements are the primary source of novelty in primate gene regulation. Genome Res. 2017 Oct;27(10):1623-1633. doi: 10.1101/gr.218149.116. Epub 2017 Aug 30. PMID: 28855262; PMCID: PMC5630026.</p> </li> <li class="md-list-item"> <p class="md-end-block md-p">Pagliaroli L, Porazzi P, Curtis AT, Scopa C, Mikkers HMM, Freund C, Daxinger L, Deliard S, Welsh SA, Offley S, Ott CA, Calabretta B, Brugmann SA, Santen GWE, Trizzino M. Inability to switch from ARID1A-BAF to ARID1B-BAF impairs exit from pluripotency and commitment towards neural crest formation in ARID1B-related neurodevelopmental disorders. Nat Commun. 2021 Nov 9;12(1):6469. doi: 10.1038/s41467-021-26810-x. PMID: 34753942; PMCID: PMC8578637.</p> </li> <li class="md-list-item"> <p class="md-end-block md-p">Tejada-Martinez D, Avelar RA, Lopes I, Zhang B, Novoa G, de Magalhães JP, Trizzino M. Positive Selection and Enhancer Evolution Shaped Lifespan and Body Mass in Great Apes. Mol Biol Evol. 2022 Feb 3;39(2):msab369. doi: 10.1093/molbev/msab369. PMID: 34971383; PMCID: PMC8837823.<