Core Viewpoint - The research published by Tsinghua University's team reveals a unique "hypertranscription state" in early embryos, highlighting the interplay between chromatin architecture and transcriptional activity, indicating a highly coordinated interaction between chromatin structure and transcription processes [2][5]. Group 1: Chromatin Structure and Dynamics - The study identifies that the conventional chromatin organization, including Topologically Associating Domains (TADs), disassembles after fertilization, followed by a slow re-establishment of three-dimensional chromatin structure during zygotic genome activation [2]. - CTCF, a highly conserved DNA-binding protein, plays a crucial role in regulating chromatin higher-order structures and is continuously present in chromatin during early mouse development, while cohesin's binding ability is weak during the single-cell embryo stage [4]. Group 2: Gene Activation and Cohesin Islands - The research found that genes associated with Genic Cohesin Islands (GCIs) are enriched in cell identity and regulatory genes, showing extensive H3K4me3 modifications in their promoter regions, indicating active transcription [5]. - There is a significant transcriptional activity from the two-cell to the eight-cell stage, which is essential for GCI formation, and induced transcription can directly generate GCIs [5]. Group 3: Interaction Between Chromatin and Transcription - GCIs serve as insulating boundaries that form contact domains with adjacent CTCF sites, enhancing both the transcription levels and stability of GCI-related genes [5]. - The findings emphasize the dynamic remodeling of three-dimensional genome structures and their reciprocal regulation by transcriptional activity, underscoring the close relationship between chromatin conformation and transcription processes in early embryos [5].