Genomic interactions: chromatin loops and gene meeting points in transcriptional regulation.
The chromosome conformation capture (3C) technique and its genome-wide applications ('4C') have identified a plethora of distal DNA sequences that are frequently in close spatial proximity. In many cases, these have been correlated with transcriptional regulation of the interacting genes, but the functional significance of many of the extreme long-range and interchromosomal interactions remains unclear. This review summarises our current understanding of how chromatin conformation can impinge on gene expression, the major questions that need to be addressed to understand this more fully, and how these questions may be answered in the near future.
Sexton
Tom
T
Institute of Human Genetics CNRS - UPR 1142, 141 Rue de la Cardonille, 34396 Montpellier, France.
Bantignies
Frédéric
F
Cavalli
Giacomo
G
D000818:Animals; D002843:Chromatin; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D016678:Genome; D055106:Genome-Wide Association Study; D006801:Humans; D014158:Transcription, Genetic
D002843:Chromatin