Ubiquitously expressed genes participate in cell-specific functions via alternative promoter usage.

ABSTRACT: How do different cell types acquire their specific identities and functions is a fundamental question of biology. Previously significant efforts have been devoted to search for cell-type-specifically expressed genes, especially transcription factors, yet how do ubiquitously expressed genes participate in the formation or maintenance of cell-type-specific features remains largely unknown. Here, we have identified 110 mouse embryonic stem cell (mESC) specifically expressed transcripts with cell-stage-specific alternative transcription start sites (SATS isoforms) from 104 ubiquitously expressed genes, majority of which have active epigenetic modification- or stem cell-related functions. These SATS isoforms are specifically expressed in mESCs, and tend to be transcriptionally regulated by key

SUBMITTER: Feng G 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5007564 | biostudies-literature | 2016 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature