title: Polycomb in Transcriptional Phase Transition of Developmental Genes.
abstract: Combinatorial associations between distinct chromatin domains, namely promoters and cis-regulatory elements, determine transcriptional status. Developmental regulatory gene expression, mostly regulated by the Polycomb/Trithorax group of chromatin regulators, is often temporally and spatially specific, and sometimes changes repeatedly within the same cell lineage. Dysregulated expression of these genes causes morphological and/or functional disorganization of tissues and organs. Therefore, maintenance of both the active and negative states of transcription is equally important. In this review, we summarize the mechanisms of transition between transcriptional status of developmental regulators, including complex processes for enhancer activation and promoter-enhancer association. In particular, we propose testable models in which Polycomb group factors contribute to promoter-enhancer associations and thus proper gene expression.
authors.affiliation: RIKEN-IMS, 1-7-22 Suehirocho, Tsurumi-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa 230-0045, Japan; CREST, 1-7-22 Suehirocho, Tsurumi-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa 230-0045, Japan; KAST, LiSE 4F-C4, 3-25-13 Tonomachi, Kawasaki-ku, Kawasaki, Kanagawa 210-0821, Japan.
authors.forename: Takashi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kondo
authors.affiliation: RIKEN-IMS, 1-7-22 Suehirocho, Tsurumi-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa 230-0045, Japan.
authors.forename: Shinsuke
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ito
authors.affiliation: RIKEN-IMS, 1-7-22 Suehirocho, Tsurumi-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa 230-0045, Japan; CREST, 1-7-22 Suehirocho, Tsurumi-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa 230-0045, Japan. Electronic address: haruhiko.koseki@riken.jp.
authors.forename: Haruhiko
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Koseki
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002843:Chromatin / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D063146:Polycomb-Group Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D014158:Transcription, Genetic
chemical_list: D002843:Chromatin; D063146:Polycomb-Group Proteins