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Genetic research

Researchers from U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Present Findings in Transcription Factor Study

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

Researchers have made significant progress in understanding the role of transcription factors (TFs) in plants. According to a new study, TFs are proteins that bind DNA to control where and when genes are expressed. In plants, dozens of TF families interact with distinct sets of binding sites (TFBSs) that reflect each TF's role in organismal function and species-specific adaptations. To further explore this, researchers created an atlas of nearly 3,000 genome-wide binding site maps for 360 TFs in ten species spanning 150 million years of flowering plant evolution.

Key Takeaways:

  • The study identified that TF orthologues from distant species retain nearly identical binding preferences, while the gain and loss of TFBSs are widespread within lineages.
  • Conserved TFBSs are over-represented and found in regions harbouring signatures of functional regulatory elements.
  • Genes with conserved TFBSs showed striking enrichment for cell-type-specific expression in 14 single-nucleus RNA atlases, providing a robust marker of each TF's activity and developmental role.
  • The study also found that ancient regulatory modules were recruited and rewired to enable adaptations underlying the evolutionary success of grasses.
  • The research utilized a scalable TFBS assay to create an atlas of binding site maps, which was leveraged to understand regulatory evolution and the role of TFs in plants.

Statistics:

  • Nearly 3,000 genome-wide binding site maps were created for 360 TFs in ten species.
  • The study spanned 150 million years of flowering plant evolution.
  • 14 single-nucleus RNA atlases were used to identify cell-type-specific expression.
  • The study identified widespread gain and loss of TFBSs within lineages.

Sources:

  • NewsRx. Researchers from U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Report on Findings in Transcription Factor (Recruitment, Rewiring and Deep Conservation In Flowering Plant Gene Regulation). Life Science Weekly. August 12, 2025; p 6217.
  • Nature Plants. Recruitment, Rewiring and Deep Conservation In Flowering Plant Gene Regulation. 2025.

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