biostudies-literatureColonnetta MMNICHD NIH HHSNSF Graduate Research FellowshipNational Institutes of HealthNIGMS NIH HHSiyab107https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC8633140biostudies-literatureUnknown219(2)Embryonic patterning is critically dependent on zygotic genome activation (ZGA). In Drosophila melanogaster embryos, the pioneer factor Zelda directs ZGA, possibly in conjunction with other factors. Here, we have explored the novel involvement of Chromatin-Linked Adapter for MSL Proteins (CLAMP) during ZGA. CLAMP binds thousands of sites genome-wide throughout early embryogenesis. Interestingly, CLAMP relocates to target promoter sequences across the genome when ZGA is initiated. Although there is a considerable overlap between CLAMP and Zelda binding sites, the proteins display distinct temporal dynamics. To assess whether CLAMP occupancy affects gene expression, we analyzed transcriptomes of embryos zygotically compromised for either clamp or zelda and found that transcript levels of manGeneticsCLAMP regulates zygotic genome activation in Drosophila embryos.PMC8633140GM126975R21 HD093913R35 GM126975DGE-1656466HD093913Colonnetta MMDeshpande GGohl DMAbrahante JESchedl PfalseCLAMP regulates zygotic genome activation in Drosophila embryos.Embryonic patterning is critically dependent on zygotic genome activation (ZGA). In Drosophila melanogaster embryos, the pioneer factor Zelda directs ZGA, possibly in conjunction with other factors. Here, we have explored the novel involvement of Chromatin-Linked Adapter for MSL Proteins (CLAMP) during ZGA. CLAMP binds thousands of sites genome-wide throughout early embryogenesis. Interestingly, CLAMP relocates to target promoter sequences across the genome when ZGA is initiated. Although there is a considerable overlap between CLAMP and Zelda binding sites, the proteins display distinct temporal dynamics. To assess whether CLAMP occupancy affects gene expression, we analyzed transcriptomes of embryos zygotically compromised for either clamp or zelda and found that transcript levels of man2021-01-01T00:00:00Z2021 Oct2025-04-04T08:01:31.856Z2025-04-04T08:01:31.856ZS-EPMC86331403484988710.1093/genetics/iyab107