Lei Gao: CAS Key Laboratory of Genome Sciences and Information, Beijing Institute of Genomics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 100101 Beijing, China.
Keliang Wu: Center for Reproductive Medicine, Shandong University, National Research Center for Assisted Reproductive Technology and Reproductive Genetics, Key Laboratory of Reproductive Endocrinology, Shandong University, Ministry of Education, Jinan, 250001 Shandong, China.
Zhenbo Liu: CAS Key Laboratory of Genome Sciences and Information, Beijing Institute of Genomics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 100101 Beijing, China.
Xuelong Yao: CAS Key Laboratory of Genome Sciences and Information, Beijing Institute of Genomics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 100101 Beijing, China; CAS Center for Excellence in Animal Evolution and Genetics, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, 100049 Beijing, China.
Shenli Yuan: CAS Key Laboratory of Genome Sciences and Information, Beijing Institute of Genomics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 100101 Beijing, China; CAS Center for Excellence in Animal Evolution and Genetics, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, 100049 Beijing, China.
Wenrong Tao: Center for Reproductive Medicine, Shandong University, National Research Center for Assisted Reproductive Technology and Reproductive Genetics, Key Laboratory of Reproductive Endocrinology, Shandong University, Ministry of Education, Jinan, 250001 Shandong, China.
Lizhi Yi: CAS Key Laboratory of Genome Sciences and Information, Beijing Institute of Genomics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 100101 Beijing, China; CAS Center for Excellence in Animal Evolution and Genetics, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, 100049 Beijing, China.
Guanling Yu: Center for Reproductive Medicine, Shandong University, National Research Center for Assisted Reproductive Technology and Reproductive Genetics, Key Laboratory of Reproductive Endocrinology, Shandong University, Ministry of Education, Jinan, 250001 Shandong, China.
Zhenzhen Hou: Center for Reproductive Medicine, Shandong University, National Research Center for Assisted Reproductive Technology and Reproductive Genetics, Key Laboratory of Reproductive Endocrinology, Shandong University, Ministry of Education, Jinan, 250001 Shandong, China.
Dongdong Fan: Key Laboratory of RNA Biology of CAS, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 100101 Beijing, China.
Yong Tian: Key Laboratory of RNA Biology of CAS, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 100101 Beijing, China.
Jianqiao Liu: Center for Reproductive Medicine, Third Affiliated Hospital, Guangzhou Medical University, 510150 Guangzhou, China. Electronic address: ljq88gz@163.com.
Zi-Jiang Chen: Center for Reproductive Medicine, Shandong University, National Research Center for Assisted Reproductive Technology and Reproductive Genetics, Key Laboratory of Reproductive Endocrinology, Shandong University, Ministry of Education, Jinan, 250001 Shandong, China. Electronic address: chenzijiang@hotmail.com.
Jiang Liu: CAS Key Laboratory of Genome Sciences and Information, Beijing Institute of Genomics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 100101 Beijing, China; CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, 100049 Beijing, China. Electronic address: liuj@big.ac.cn.
The dynamics of the chromatin regulatory landscape during human early embryogenesis remains unknown. Using DNase I hypersensitive site (DHS) sequencing, we report that the chromatin accessibility landscape is gradually established during human early embryogenesis. Interestingly, the DHSs with OCT4 binding motifs are enriched at the timing of zygotic genome activation (ZGA) in humans, but not in mice. Consistently, OCT4 contributes to ZGA in humans, but not in mice. We further find that lower CpG promoters usually establish DHSs at later stages. Similarly, younger genes tend to establish promoter DHSs and are expressed at later embryonic stages, while older genes exhibit these features at earlier stages. Moreover, our data show that human active transposons SVA and HERV-K harbor DHSs and are highly expressed in early embryos, but not in differentiated tissues. In summary, our data provide an evolutionary developmental view for understanding the regulation of gene and transposon expression.
