ABSTRACT

Transposons are mobile DNA sequences, accounting for 50% of the human genome and often referred to as the "dark matter of the genome." They are implicated in embryonic development, neurodevelopment, and various diseases, yet their regulatory mechanisms remain incompletely understood. Our latest research reveals that transposons can function as RNA-dependent cis-regulatory elements, participating in developmental regulation through the following mechanisms: 1) SVA transposons regulate myeloid differentiation and hematopoietic aging via transcriptional control; 2) L1 transposon transcriptional activation drives zygotic genome activation; 3) L1 transposons collaborate with SAFB and Pol II to form chromatin topological boundaries. These breakthroughs highlight the central role of transposons in developmental regulation and offer new insights for research into related diseases.