title: A unified architecture of transcriptional regulatory elements.
abstract: Gene expression is precisely controlled in time and space through the integration of signals that act at gene promoters and gene-distal enhancers. Classically, promoters and enhancers are considered separate classes of regulatory elements, often distinguished by histone modifications. However, recent studies have revealed broad similarities between enhancers and promoters, blurring the distinction: active enhancers often initiate transcription, and some gene promoters have the potential to enhance transcriptional output of other promoters. Here, we propose a model in which promoters and enhancers are considered a single class of functional element, with a unified architecture for transcription initiation. The context of interacting regulatory elements and the surrounding sequences determine local transcriptional output as well as the enhancer and promoter activities of individual elements.
authors.affiliation: The Bioinformatics Centre, Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark. Electronic address: robin@binf.ku.dk.
authors.forename: Robin
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Andersson
authors.affiliation: The Bioinformatics Centre, Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark; Biotech Research and Innovation Centre (BRIC), University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.
authors.forename: Albin
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sandelin
authors.affiliation: Baker Institute for Animal Health, College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA; Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA. Electronic address: dankoc@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Charles G
authors.initials: CG
authors.lastname: Danko
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002843:Chromatin / Q000378:metabolism; D006657:Histones / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D011499:Protein Processing, Post-Translational / Q000235:genetics; D020871:RNA Stability / Q000235:genetics; D050436:Regulatory Elements, Transcriptional / Q000235:genetics*; D014158:Transcription, Genetic
chemical_list: D002843:Chromatin; D006657:Histones
keywords: core promoter; eRNA; enhancer; promoter; transcriptional regulation