Transposable elements (TEs) are important in the evolution of genomic functions but the mechanisms of their precise role in cancer pathogenesis is unclear. Alternative promoters at the TE subclass long terminal repeats (LTRs) are activated when topologically associating domain (TAD) hierarchy maintained by NIPBL is lost, potentially leading to aberrant transcription of oncogenes.
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References
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This is a summary of: Wong, E. W. P. et al. Disruption of TAD hierarchy promotes LTR co-option in cancer. Nat. Genet. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41588-025-02239-6 (2025).
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Spatial organization of chromatin restricts activation of poised alternative promoters in LTRs. Nat Genet 57, 1576–1577 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41588-025-02238-7
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41588-025-02238-7
