RNA catabolism restricts ERV expression and functionalization [KD RNA-Seq]

Endogenous retroviruses (ERVs) are remnants of ancient parasitic viral integrations and comprise a sizable portion of the genome in most organisms. Deregulated expression of ERVs in human is associated with a plethora of disease conditions, such as cancer and neurodegeneration. Epigenetic mechanisms silence most ERVs by generating a local repressive environment (heterochromatin) to prevent their expression. However, the mechanisms controlling the fate of ERVs residing in euchromatic regions of the genome (e.g. MERVL elements) are not well understood. Here, by integrating multidimensional epigenetic and genomic analyses, we demonstrate that silencing of euchromatic MERVL elements is achieved via transcription-coupled RNA degradation. Disrupting RNA catabolism promotes RNAPII elongation from MERVL promoters, increases MERVL expression and exonization, creating novel chimeric gene isoforms, and directing embryonic stem (ES) cells toward a terminal undifferentiated state. Our results indicate that RNA catabolism is a core regulatory module of gene networks that safeguards cell identity and potency, restricts MERVL functionalization and suppresses gene birth. Total RNA-Seq of mESCs undergoing siRNA-mediated KD of Exosc3, Ints11, Rbm7, Cpsf2 and Zcchc8. Three separate KD experiments were performed, each with respective siCtrl samples (see "experiment" column for metadata detail).