Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41917015›Full record

ArticleNature communications2026

The landscape and regulatory potential of eccDNAs in mammalian preimplantation embryos.

Ling Wei, Ning Wu, Lu Chen, Tao Wang, Zhipeng Zhu, Leisheng Shi, Xi Xiang, Jie Qiao, Qiang Liu, Xiaolu Zhao and 1 more

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Nature communications, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing 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

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

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

11 authors.

Ling Wei *Institute of Medical Innovation and Research, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing, China.
Ning Wu *State Key Laboratory of Female Fertility Promotion, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing, China.
Lu Chen *State Key Laboratory of Female Fertility Promotion, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing, China.ORCID 0009-0003-4983-0996
Tao WangInstitute of Medical Innovation and Research, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing, China.
Zhipeng ZhuInstitute of Medical Innovation and Research, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing, China.
Leisheng ShiInstitute of Medical Innovation and Research, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing, China.
Xi XiangScientific Research Center, Department of Urology, Pelvic Floor Disorders Center, The Seventh Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China.
Jie QiaoState Key Laboratory of Female Fertility Promotion, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing, China. jie.qiao@263.net.ORCID 0000-0003-2126-1376
Qiang LiuState Key Laboratory of Female Fertility Promotion, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing, China. liuqiangtaian2008@163.com.ORCID 0000-0002-8032-5985
Xiaolu ZhaoState Key Laboratory of Female Fertility Promotion, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing, China. xiaolu_zhao@163.com.
Fengbiao MaoInstitute of Medical Innovation and Research, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing, China. fengbiaomao@bjmu.edu.cn.ORCID 0000-0003-0852-4266

Funding

National Natural Science Foundation of China (National Science Foundation of China) 32470835National Natural Science Foundation of China (National Science Foundation of China) 32470894
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Extrachromosomal circular DNA is an emerging regulatory element implicated in genomic stability and gene regulation, yet its role in preimplantation development remains elusive. Here, we report the widespread presence of extrachromosomal circular DNA in preimplantation embryos, characterized by homologous junction sequences and originating from genomic regions enriched for active histone marks and RNA Polymerase II occupancy. Functional perturbations demonstrate that RNA Polymerase II inhibition suppresses extrachromosomal circular DNA production, whereas disruption of the Fanconi anemia pathway elevates it, suggesting that transcription-replication conflicts affect its biogenesis. Notably, extrachromosomal circular DNA levels surge during major zygotic genome activation. Synthetic extrachromosomal circular DNAs carrying putative enhancers for the zygotic genome activation genes Mycn and Egfl7, and the developmental gene Emx1, significantly upregulate the expression of their respective genes upon transfection into fibroblasts and zygotes. Collectively, this study unveils the extrachromosomal circular DNA landscape in preimplantation embryos, elucidates a transcription-replication conflict mechanism underlying its generation, and establishes its regulatory potential during mammalian preimplantation development.

Indexed as

BlastocystDNA, CircularAnimalsDNA ReplicationEmbryonic DevelopmentExtrachromosomal DNAFemaleGene Expression Regulation, DevelopmentalHumansMiceRNA Polymerase IITranscription, GeneticZygoteDNA, CircularExtrachromosomal DNARNA Polymerase II

Identifiers

PMID41917015
PMCPMC13201599

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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.