Misaki Matsuo and Gael Cristofari Institute for Research on Cancer and Aging of Nice (IRCAN), Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale (INSERM), Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), University Cote d'Azur, Nice 06107, France Corresponding authors: gael.cristofariuniv-cotedazur.fr, misaki.matsuouniv-cotedazur.fr Abstract

Long interspersed element-1 (LINE-1) retrotransposons are abundant transposable elements in mammals and significantly influence chromosome structure, chromatin organization, and 3D genome architecture. In this issue of Genes & Development, Ataei et al. (doi:10.1101/gad.351979.124) identify a homininae-specific LINE-1 element within nucleolar organizer regions (NORs) that is specifically transcribed in naïve human embryonic stem cells. Deletion or silencing of this element disrupts nucleolar organization and function and alters cellular identity. These findings provide novel insights into the role of retrotransposons in genome organization and suggest that individual LINE-1 elements may have evolved specialized roles.