Promoter G-quadruplex structures regulate tissue-specific gene expression and functional differentiation in Bombyx mori
- 1Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Insect Developmental Biology and Applied Technology, Guangzhou Key Laboratory of Insect Development Regulation and Application Research, Institute of Insect Science and Technology, School of Life Sciences, South China Normal University
- 2Department of Ophthalmology, People’s Hospital of Qianxinan Prefecture
Abstract
Background DNA G-quadruplex structures (G4s) are noncanonical nucleic acid structures that play crucial roles in gene transcription regulation, particularly when located within promoter regions. Tissue-specific gene expression underlies the development and functional specialization of multicellular organisms. However, the potential role of G4s in tissue-specific transcriptional regulation remains largely unexplored. In this study, we conducted an integrative analysis of G-quadruplex (G4) distribution and function in the silkworm brain and fat body, two substantially differentiated tissues in terms of structure and function, using G4-CUT&Tag, ATAC-seq, RNA-seq, and histone modification datasets. Results We found that promoter G4s were highly enriched in regions of open chromatin and active histone modification, and that G4 folding showed a correlation with transcriptional activation in a tissue-specific manner. Even at identical genomic DNA sequences, G4 folding patterns differed markedly between the brain and fat body and were associated with tissue-specific gene expression profiles. Genes marked by brain-specific G4s were enriched in neural pathways, whereas genes with fat body-specific G4s were enriched in metabolic pathways, closely aligning with the physiological roles of each tissue. Moreover, chemical stabilization of G4s by pyridostatin disrupted gene expression and impaired tissue development, including neurogenesis in the brain and lipid metabolism in the fat body. Conclusions Our results suggest that G4s may function as dynamic epigenetic modulators that shape tissue-specific gene expression and coordinate functional differentiation in insects.
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BibTeX
@article{xiang2026promoter,
title = {{Promoter G-quadruplex structures regulate tissue-specific gene expression and functional differentiation in Bombyx mori}},
author = {Lijun Xiang and Jin Li and Bingxian Wu and Tingting Yao and Xiaojuan Zhang and Keling Wu and Mingxi Zheng and Qili Feng and Kangkang Niu},
journal = {BMC Biology},
year = {2026},
month = jul,
doi = {10.1186/s12915-026-02696-3},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1186/s12915-026-02696-3},
note = {CC BY},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Promoter G-quadruplex structures regulate tissue-specific gene expression and functional differentiation in Bombyx mori
AU - Lijun Xiang
AU - Jin Li
AU - Bingxian Wu
AU - Tingting Yao
AU - Xiaojuan Zhang
AU - Keling Wu
AU - Mingxi Zheng
AU - Qili Feng
AU - Kangkang Niu
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/07/01
JO - BMC Biology
DO - 10.1186/s12915-026-02696-3
UR - https://doi.org/10.1186/s12915-026-02696-3
AB - Background DNA G-quadruplex structures (G4s) are noncanonical nucleic acid structures that play crucial roles in gene transcription regulation, particularly when located within promoter regions. Tissue-specific gene expression underlies the development and functional specialization of multicellular organisms. However, the potential role of G4s in tissue-specific transcriptional regulation remains largely unexplored. In this study, we conducted an integrative analysis of G-quadruplex (G4) distribution and function in the silkworm brain and fat body, two substantially differentiated tissues in terms of structure and function, using G4-CUT&Tag, ATAC-seq, RNA-seq, and histone modification datasets. Results We found that promoter G4s were highly enriched in regions of open chromatin and active histone modification, and that G4 folding showed a correlation with transcriptional activation in a tissue-specific manner. Even at identical genomic DNA sequences, G4 folding patterns differed markedly between the brain and fat body and were associated with tissue-specific gene expression profiles. Genes marked by brain-specific G4s were enriched in neural pathways, whereas genes with fat body-specific G4s were enriched in metabolic pathways, closely aligning with the physiological roles of each tissue. Moreover, chemical stabilization of G4s by pyridostatin disrupted gene expression and impaired tissue development, including neurogenesis in the brain and lipid metabolism in the fat body. Conclusions Our results suggest that G4s may function as dynamic epigenetic modulators that shape tissue-specific gene expression and coordinate functional differentiation in insects.
SN - 1741-7007
ER -