Continued Activity of the Pioneer Factor Zelda Is Required to Drive Zygotic Genome Activation (Molecular Cell)

Pioneer factors activate the zygotic genome following fertilization. Using optogenetic inactivation, McDaniel et al. demonstrate that continued activity of the Drosophila transcription factor Zelda is required to activate gene expression and that Zelda binds to nucleosomes. This pioneering activity may facilitate the establishment of nucleosome-depleted regions during rapid replication cycles.