RT Journal Article SR Electronic T1 The BLMP-1 transcription factor promotes oscillatory gene expression to achieve timely molting JF bioRxiv FD Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory SP 2021.07.05.450828 DO 10.1101/2021.07.05.450828 A1 Hauser, Yannick P. A1 Meeuse, Milou W.M. A1 Gaidatzis, Dimos A1 Großhans, Helge YR 2021 UL http://biorxiv.org/content/early/2021/07/05/2021.07.05.450828.abstract AB Gene expression oscillators can coordinate developmental events in space and time. In C. elegans, a gene expression oscillator directs rhythmic accumulation of ∼25% of the transcriptome, and thus thousands of transcripts, presumably to control molting, a process of rhythmic skin regeneration. The mechanism and organization of the oscillator are not known. Here, we report that rhythmic RNA polymerase II recruitment to promoters produces transcript level oscillations. We identify BLMP-1, orthologous to the mammalian transcription repressor PRDM1, as a rhythmically accumulating transcription factor that is required for timely molting, and oscillatory gene expression. We propose a dual function for BLMP-1 in shaping oscillatory gene expression and coupling it to a set of direct targets, which ensures cuticular integrity. With mammalian PRDM1/BLIMP1 promoting regular cycles of postnatal hair follicle regeneration, our findings point to the possible existence of a fundamentally conserved clock mechanism in control of rhythmic skin regeneration.Competing Interest StatementThe authors have declared no competing interest.