Plant Enhancers: A Call for Discovery.
Higher eukaryotes typically contain many different cell types, displaying different cellular functions that are influenced by biotic and abiotic cues. The different functions are characterized by specific gene expression patterns mediated by regulatory sequences such as transcriptional enhancers. Recent genome-wide approaches have identified thousands of enhancers in animals, reviving interest in enhancers in gene regulation. Although the regulatory roles of plant enhancers are as crucial as those in animals, genome-wide approaches have only very recently been applied to plants. Here we review characteristics of enhancers at the DNA and chromatin level in plants and other species, their similarities and differences, and techniques widely used for genome-wide discovery of enhancers in animal systems that can be implemented in plants.
Swammerdam Institute for Life Sciences, Universiteit van Amsterdam, Science Park 904, 1098 XH Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
Blaise
B
Weber
Max Planck Institute for Plant Breeding Research, Department Plant Developmental Biology, Carl-von-Linné-Weg 10, 50829 Köln, Germany.
Johan
J
Zicola
Swammerdam Institute for Life Sciences, Universiteit van Amsterdam, Science Park 904, 1098 XH Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
Rurika
R
Oka
Swammerdam Institute for Life Sciences, Universiteit van Amsterdam, Science Park 904, 1098 XH Amsterdam, The Netherlands. Electronic address: m.e.stam@uva.nl.
Maike
M
Stam
D002843:Chromatin / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D010940:Plant Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D012045:Regulatory Sequences, Nucleic Acid / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*
D002843:Chromatin; D010940:Plant Proteins; D014157:Transcription Factors
chromatin structure; enhancer; gene regulation; transcription factor