Translatome and transcriptome co-profiling reveals a role of TPRXs in human zygotic genome activation
Zhuoning Zou, Chuanxin Zhang, Qiuyan Wang, Zhenzhen Hou, Zhuqing Xiong, Feng Kong, Q. Wang, Jinzhu Song, Boyang Liu, Bofeng Liu, Lijuan Wang, Fang-Nong Lai, Qiang Fan, Wenrong Tao, Shuai Zhao, Xiaonan Ma, Miao Li, Keliang Wu, Han Zhao, Zi‐Jiang Chen, Wei Xie
Abstract
Translational regulation plays a critical role during the oocyte-to-embryo transition (OET) and zygotic genome activation (ZGA). Here, we integrated ultra-low-input ribosome profiling (Ribo-lite) with messenger RNA sequencing to co-profile the translatome and transcriptome in human oocytes and early embryos. Comparison with mouse counterparts identified widespread differentially translated gene functioning in epigenetic reprogramming, transposon defense, and small RNA biogenesis, in part driven by species-specific regulatory elements in 3′ untranslated regions. Moreover, PRD-like homeobox transcription factors, including TPRXL , TPRX1 , and TPRX2 , are highly translated around ZGA. TPRX1/2/L knockdown leads to defective ZGA and preimplantation development. Ectopically expressed TPRXs bind and activate key ZGA genes in human embryonic stem cells. These data reveal the conservation and divergence of translation landscapes during OET and identify critical regulators of human ZGA.