The retrovirus HERVH is a long noncoding RNA required for human embryonic stem cell identity

X Lu, F Sachs, LA Ramsay, PÉ Jacques… - Nature structural & …, 2014 - nature.com
Nature structural & molecular biology, 2014nature.com
Human endogenous retrovirus subfamily H (HERVH) is a class of transposable elements
expressed preferentially in human embryonic stem cells (hESCs). Here, we report that the
long terminal repeats of HERVH function as enhancers and that HERVH is a nuclear long
noncoding RNA required to maintain hESC identity. Furthermore, HERVH is associated with
OCT4, coactivators and Mediator subunits. Together, these results uncover a new role of
species-specific transposable elements in hESCs.
Abstract
Human endogenous retrovirus subfamily H (HERVH) is a class of transposable elements expressed preferentially in human embryonic stem cells (hESCs). Here, we report that the long terminal repeats of HERVH function as enhancers and that HERVH is a nuclear long noncoding RNA required to maintain hESC identity. Furthermore, HERVH is associated with OCT4, coactivators and Mediator subunits. Together, these results uncover a new role of species-specific transposable elements in hESCs.
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