Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40913227›Full record

ArticleGenome biology2025

DNA G-quadruplex profiling in skeletal muscle stem cells reveals functional and mechanistic insights.

Xiaona Chen, Feng Yang, Suyang Zhang, Xiaofan Guo, Jieyu Zhao, Yulong Qiao, Liangqiang He, Yang Li, Qin Zhou, Michael Tim-Yun Ong and 3 more

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Genome biology, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

2 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. G-Quadruplexes: Structural Diversity and Emerging Roles in Biomolecular Condensation.Advanced science (Weinheim, Baden-Wurttemberg, Germany) · 2026
    Review
  2. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

13 authors.

Xiaona Chen *Department of Orthopaedics and Traumatology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China. xiaonachen@cuhk.edu.hk.
Feng Yang *Li Ka Shing Institute of Health Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China.
Suyang Zhang *Department of Orthopaedics and Traumatology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China.
Xiaofan GuoDepartment of Orthopaedics and Traumatology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China.
Jieyu ZhaoDepartment of Chemistry and State Key Laboratory of Marine Environmental Health, City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon Tong, Hong Kong SAR, China.
Yulong QiaoDepartment of Orthopaedics and Traumatology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China.
Liangqiang HeInnoHK Center for Neuromusculoskeletal Restorative Medicine Limited, Hong Kong Science Park, Hong Kong SAR, China.
Yang LiDepartment of Orthopaedics and Traumatology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China.
Qin ZhouDepartment of Orthopaedics and Traumatology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China.
Michael Tim-Yun OngDepartment of Orthopaedics and Traumatology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China.
Chun Kit KwokDepartment of Chemistry and State Key Laboratory of Marine Environmental Health, City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon Tong, Hong Kong SAR, China.
Hao SunFaculty of Medicine, Warshel Institute for Computational Biology, Chinese University of Hong Kong (Shenzhen), Guangdong, China. sunhao100@cuhk.edu.cn.
Huating WangDepartment of Orthopaedics and Traumatology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China. huating.wang@cuhk.edu.hk.

Funding

Area of Excellence Scheme (AoE) from RGC AoE/M-402/20City University of Hong Kong projects 9680376, 7030001, 9678302Croucher Foundation 9509003General Research Fund (GRF) from Research Grants Council (RGC) of the HongKong Special Administrative Region, China 14108225, 14106521, 14105123, 14103522, and 14105823Health and Medical Research Fund (HMRF) from Health Bureau of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China 10210906 and 08190626National Key R&D Program of China 2022YFA0806003National Natural Science Foundation of China 32300703National Natural Science Foundation of China 32471343, 32222089National Natural Science Foundation of China 82172436Natural Science Foundation of Guangdong Province, China 2024A1515030291Non-Communicable Chronic Disease-National Science and Technology Major Project of China 2024ZD0530400Research Grants Council (RGC) of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region RFS2425-1S02, 11100123, 11100222, 11100421State Key Laboratory of Marine Pollution Seed Collaborative Research Fund SCRF/0070Theme-based Research Scheme (TRS) from RGC T13-602/21-N
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundDNA G-quadruplexes (G4s) are non-canonical secondary structures formed in guanine-rich DNA sequences and play important roles in modulating biological processes through a variety of gene regulatory mechanisms. Emerging G4 profiling allows global mapping of endogenous G4 formation.

resultsHere in this study, we map the G4 landscapes in adult skeletal muscle stem cells (MuSCs), which are essential for injury-induced muscle regeneration. Throughout the myogenic lineage progression of MuSCs, we uncover dynamic endogenous G4 formation with a pronounced G4 induction when MuSCs become activated and proliferating. We further demonstrate that the G4 induction promotes MuSC activation thus the regeneration process. Mechanistically, we found that promoter-associated G4s regulate gene transcription through facilitating chromatin looping. Furthermore, we found that G4 sites are enriched for transcription factor (TF) binding events in activated MuSCs; MAX binds to G4 structures to synergistically facilitate chromatin looping and gene transcription, thus promoting MuSC activation and regeneration. The above uncovered global regulatory functions/mechanisms are further dissected on the paradigm of Ccne1 promoter, demonstrating that Ccne1 is a bona fide G4/MAX regulatory target in activated MuSCs.

conclusionsAltogether, our findings for the first time demonstrate the prevalent and dynamic formation of G4s in adult MuSCs and the mechanistic role of G4s in modulating gene expression and MuSC activation/proliferation.

Indexed as

Gene Expression Regulation, DevelopmentalG-QuadruplexesMuscle DevelopmentMuscle Fibers, SkeletalMyoblasts, SkeletalRegenerationAnimalsCell LineageFemaleGene Expression ProfilingHEK293 CellsHumansMaleMiceMice, Inbred C57BLTranscription, GeneticChromatin loopingDNA G-quadruplexMAXMuscle regenerationSkeletal muscle stem cells

Identifiers

PMID40913227
PMCPMC12412246

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.