Enhancer Function: New Insights into the Regulation of Tissue-specific Gene Expression

Overview

Journal Nat Rev Genet

Specialty Genetics

Date 2011 Mar 2

PMID 21358745

Citations 502

Authors

Chin-Tong Ong

Victor G Corces

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Enhancer function underlies regulatory processes by which cells establish patterns of gene expression. Recent results suggest that many enhancers are specified by particular chromatin marks in pluripotent cells, which may be modified later in development to alter patterns of gene expression and cell differentiation choices. These marks may contribute to the repertoire of epigenetic mechanisms responsible for cellular memory and determine the timing of transcription factor accessibility to the enhancer. Mechanistically, cohesin and non-coding RNAs are emerging as crucial players responsible for facilitating enhancer-promoter interactions at some genes. Surprisingly, these interactions may be required not only to facilitate initiation of transcription but also to activate the release of RNA polymerase II (RNAPII) from promoter-proximal pausing.

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