Active genes dynamically colocalize to shared sites of ongoing transcription.
The intranuclear position of many genes has been correlated with their activity state, suggesting that migration to functional subcompartments may influence gene expression. Indeed, nascent RNA production and RNA polymerase II seem to be localized into discrete foci or 'transcription factories'. Current estimates from cultured cells indicate that multiple genes could occupy the same factory, although this has not yet been observed. Here we show that, during transcription in vivo, distal genes colocalize to the same transcription factory at high frequencies. Active genes are dynamically organized into shared nuclear subcompartments, and movement into or out of these factories results in activation or abatement of transcription. Thus, rather than recruiting and assembling transcription complexes, active genes migrate to preassembled transcription sites.
Osborne
Cameron S
CS
Laboratory of Chromatin and Gene Expression, The Babraham Institute, Babraham Research Campus, Cambridge, CB2 4AT, UK.
Chakalova
Lyubomira
L
Brown
Karen E
KE
Carter
David
D
Horton
Alice
A
Debrand
Emmanuel
E
Goyenechea
Beatriz
B
Mitchell
Jennifer A
JA
Lopes
Susana
S
Reik
Wolf
W
Fraser
Peter
P
D000818:Animals; D001798:Blood Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000378:metabolism; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D005914:Globins / Q000235:genetics; D017404:In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence; D007335:Insulin-Like Growth Factor II / Q000235:genetics; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D051379:Mice; D008957:Models, Genetic; D018832:Molecular Chaperones / Q000235:genetics; D024642:Potassium Channels, Voltage-Gated; D012319:RNA Polymerase II / Q000378:metabolism; D014158:Transcription, Genetic; D014576:Uroporphyrinogen III Synthetase / Q000235:genetics
C468768:AHSP protein, human; D001798:Blood Proteins; C485621:KCNQ1OT1 long non-coding RNA, human; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D018832:Molecular Chaperones; D024642:Potassium Channels, Voltage-Gated; D007335:Insulin-Like Growth Factor II; D005914:Globins; D012319:RNA Polymerase II; D014576:Uroporphyrinogen III Synthetase