Nature Genetics：颉伟/陈子江/赵涵合作揭示母源因子OTX2唤醒人类胚胎基因组

Core Viewpoint - The research highlights the critical role of the maternal transcription factor OTX2 in initiating human embryonic genome activation (EGA) and its implications for early human development [2][6]. Group 1: Research Findings - OTX2 is identified as an essential maternal PRD-like homeobox protein transcription factor necessary for EGA and early development in humans [5]. - At the 4-cell stage, OTX2 activates key EGA genes, including TPRX1 and TPRX2, as well as EGA-related repetitive sequences HERVL-int and MLT2A1 [5]. - OTX2 directly binds to promoters and presumed enhancers at EGA target sites, many of which overlap with OTX2 motif-containing Alu and MaLR repetitive elements, enhancing chromatin accessibility [5]. Group 2: Implications and Significance - The findings establish OTX2 as a key maternal transcription factor that awakens the genome at the beginning of human life, providing insights into molecular regulatory mechanisms in developmental biology and reproductive medicine [6]. - A related article in Nature Genetics emphasizes the largely unknown transcription factors responsible for initiating EGA in humans, underscoring the significance of the new research on OTX2 [6].