LAUSR

Activity of the human long interspersed nuclear elements‐1 (LINE‐1) retrotransposon occurs mainly in early embryonic development and during hippocampal neurogenesis. SOX‐11, a transcription factor relevant to neuronal development, has unknown functions in the control of LINE‐1 retrotransposon activity during neuronal differentiation. To study the dependence of LINE‐1 activity on SOX‐11 during neuronal differentiation, we induced differentiation of human SH‐SY5Y neuroblastoma cells and adult adipose mesenchymal stem cells (hASCs) to a neuronal fate and found increased LINE‐1 activity. We also show that SOX‐11 protein binding to the LINE‐1 promoter is higher in differentiating neuroblastoma cells, while knock‐down of SOX‐11 inhibits the induction of LINE‐1 transcription in differentiating conditions. These results suggest that activation of LINE‐1 retrotransposition during neuronal differentiation is mediated by SOX‐11.