Mammalian evolution of human cis-regulatory elements and transcription factor binding sites

Science. 2023 Apr 28;380(6643):eabn7930. doi: 10.1126/science.abn7930. Epub 2023 Apr 28.

Abstract

Understanding the regulatory landscape of the human genome is a long-standing objective of modern biology. Using the reference-free alignment across 241 mammalian genomes produced by the Zoonomia Consortium, we charted evolutionary trajectories for 0.92 million human candidate cis-regulatory elements (cCREs) and 15.6 million human transcription factor binding sites (TFBSs). We identified 439,461 cCREs and 2,024,062 TFBSs under evolutionary constraint. Genes near constrained elements perform fundamental cellular processes, whereas genes near primate-specific elements are involved in environmental interaction, including odor perception and immune response. About 20% of TFBSs are transposable element-derived and exhibit intricate patterns of gains and losses during primate evolution whereas sequence variants associated with complex traits are enriched in constrained TFBSs. Our annotations illuminate the regulatory functions of the human genome.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Binding Sites
  • DNA Transposable Elements
  • Evolution, Molecular*
  • Genome, Human*
  • Humans
  • Mammals* / classification
  • Mammals* / genetics
  • Phylogeny
  • Primates / classification
  • Primates / genetics
  • Regulatory Elements, Transcriptional*
  • Transcription Factors* / genetics
  • Transcription Factors* / metabolism

Substances

  • DNA Transposable Elements
  • Transcription Factors