Zscan4 binds nucleosomal microsatellite DNA and protects mouse two-cell embryos from DNA damage
Open Access
- 20 March 2020
- journal article
- research article
- Published by American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) in Science Advances
- Vol. 6 (12), eaaz9115
- https://doi.org/10.1126/sciadv.aaz9115
Abstract
Zinc finger protein Zscan4 is selectively expressed in mouse two-cell (2C) embryos undergoing zygotic genome activation (ZGA) and in a rare subpopulation of embryonic stem cells with 2C-like features. Here, we show that Zscan4 specifically recognizes a subset of (CA)n microsatellites, repeat sequences prone to genomic instability. Zscan4-associated microsatellite regions are characterized by low nuclease sensitivity and high histone occupancy. In vitro, Zscan4 binds nucleosomes and protects them from disassembly upon torsional strain. Furthermore, Zscan4 depletion leads to elevated DNA damage in 2C mouse embryos in a transcription-dependent manner. Together, our results identify Zscan4 as a DNA sequence–dependent microsatellite binding factor and suggest a developmentally regulated mechanism, which protects fragile genomic regions from DNA damage at a time of embryogenesis associated with high transcriptional burden and genomic stress.Keywords
Funding Information
- National Institutes of Health (GM112720-01)
- National Institutes of Health (K99CA212204)
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute
- Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research
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