Dynamic usage of transcription start sites within core promoters.
BACKGROUND
Mammalian promoters do not initiate transcription at single, well defined base pairs, but rather at multiple, alternative start sites spread across a region. We previously characterized the static structures of transcription start site usage within promoters at the base pair level, based on large-scale sequencing of transcript 5' ends.


RESULTS
In the present study we begin to explore the internal dynamics of mammalian promoters, and demonstrate that start site selection within many mouse core promoters varies among tissues. We also show that this dynamic usage of start sites is associated with CpG islands, broad and multimodal promoter structures, and imprinting.


CONCLUSIONS
Our results reveal a new level of biologic complexity within promoters--fine-scale regulation of transcription starting events at the base pair level. These events are likely to be related to epigenetic transcriptional regulation.
Kawaji
Hideya
H
NTT Software Corporation, 209 Yamashita-cho Nakak-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa, 231-8551, Japan. kawaji@po.ntts.co.jp
Frith
Martin C
MC
Katayama
Shintaro
S
Sandelin
Albin
A
Kai
Chikatoshi
C
Kawai
Jun
J
Carninci
Piero
P
Hayashizaki
Yoshihide
Y
D000818:Animals; D018899:CpG Islands; D019175:DNA Methylation; D051379:Mice; D005810:Multigene Family; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic; D014158:Transcription, Genetic