Comparing great apes reveals human-specific ZEB2 roles in neural development.

ABSTRACT: Humans differ from other primates in various traits, despite nearly identical protein-coding sequences. Understanding the evolution of these differences requires studying transcriptional regulation. Here, we examine ZEB2, a transcription factor crucial for immune and neural development, to explore its regulatory divergence across great apes. Using B-lymphoblastoid cells, chosen as experimental model system due to the availability of biological replicates for three great ape species, we show that, in addition to conserved ZEB2 targets, human ZEB2 is distinct in regulating a larger repertoire of genes implicated in neuronal development. ZEB2 knock-down in human, chimpanzee, and orangutan B-lymphoblastoid cells followed by transcriptome profiling uncovered human-specific regulatory difference

SUBMITTER: Lee JE 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12728505 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature