title: Mediator and cohesin connect gene expression and chromatin architecture.
abstract: Transcription factors control cell-specific gene expression programs through interactions with diverse coactivators and the transcription apparatus. Gene activation may involve DNA loop formation between enhancer-bound transcription factors and the transcription apparatus at the core promoter, but this process is not well understood. Here we report that mediator and cohesin physically and functionally connect the enhancers and core promoters of active genes in murine embryonic stem cells. Mediator, a transcriptional coactivator, forms a complex with cohesin, which can form rings that connect two DNA segments. The cohesin-loading factor Nipbl is associated with mediator-cohesin complexes, providing a means to load cohesin at promoters. DNA looping is observed between the enhancers and promoters occupied by mediator and cohesin. Mediator and cohesin co-occupy different promoters in different cells, thus generating cell-type-specific DNA loops linked to the gene expression program of each cell.
authors: Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research, 9 Cambridge Center, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02142, USA.
authors: Michael H
authors: MH
authors: Kagey
authors: Jamie J
authors: JJ
authors: Newman
authors: Steve
authors: S
authors: Bilodeau
authors: Ye
authors: Y
authors: Zhan
authors: David A
authors: DA
authors: Orlando
authors: Nynke L
authors: NL
authors: van Berkum
authors: Christopher C
authors: CC
authors: Ebmeier
authors: Jesse
authors: J
authors: Goossens
authors: Peter B
authors: PB
authors: Rahl
authors: Stuart S
authors: SS
authors: Levine
authors: Dylan J
authors: DJ
authors: Taatjes
authors: Job
authors: J
authors: Dekker
authors: Richard A
authors: RA
authors: Young
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D018797:Cell Cycle Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002843:Chromatin / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D042002:Chromatin Assembly and Disassembly / Q000235:genetics*; D002868:Chromosomal Proteins, Non-Histone / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D004247:DNA / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D053595:Embryonic Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D004742:Enhancer Elements, Genetic / Q000235:genetics; D005347:Fibroblasts; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000235:genetics*; D056892:Mediator Complex / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D051379:Mice; D009690:Nucleic Acid Conformation; D009928:Organ Specificity; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic / Q000235:genetics; D011485:Protein Binding; D000097722:Cohesins
chemical_list: D018797:Cell Cycle Proteins; D002843:Chromatin; D002868:Chromosomal Proteins, Non-Histone; D004247:DNA; D056892:Mediator Complex; D000097722:Cohesins