title: The role of transcription factories in large-scale structure and dynamics of interphase chromatin.
abstract: The genome is spatially organized inside nuclei, with chromosomes and genes occupying preferential positions relative to each other and to various nuclear landmarks. What drives this organization is unclear, but recent findings suggest there are extensive intra- and inter-chromosomal communications between various genomic regions that appear to play important roles in genome function. Here we review transcription factories, distinct sub-nuclear foci where nascent transcription occurs. We argue that the spatially restricted, limited number of transcription sites compels transcribed regions of the genome to dynamically self-organize into tissue-specific conformations, thus playing a major role in the three-dimensional interphase organization of the genome.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Chromatin and Gene Expression, The Babraham Institute, Babraham Research Campus, Cambridge CB22 3AT, UK.
authors.forename: Tom
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Sexton
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Umlauf
authors.forename: Sreenivasulu
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kurukuti
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Fraser
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002843:Chromatin / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D012321:DNA-Directed RNA Polymerases / Q000737:chemistry / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D007399:Interphase / Q000502:physiology*; D014158:Transcription, Genetic / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D002843:Chromatin; D012321:DNA-Directed RNA Polymerases