title: Cajal body function in genome organization and transcriptome diversity.
abstract: Nuclear bodies contribute to non-random organization of the human genome and nuclear function. Using a major prototypical nuclear body, the Cajal body, as an example, we suggest that these structures assemble at specific gene loci located across the genome as a result of high transcriptional activity. Subsequently, target genes are physically clustered in close proximity in Cajal body-containing cells. However, Cajal bodies are observed in only a limited number of human cell types, including neuronal and cancer cells. Ultimately, Cajal body depletion perturbs splicing kinetics by reducing target small nuclear RNA (snRNA) transcription and limiting the levels of spliceosomal snRNPs, including their modification and turnover following each round of RNA splicing. As such, Cajal bodies are capable of shaping the chromatin interaction landscape and the transcriptome by influencing spliceosome kinetics. Future studies should concentrate on characterizing the direct influence of Cajal bodies upon snRNA gene transcriptional dynamics. Also see the video abstract here.
authors: Department of Cell Biology, Chicago Medical School, Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science, North Chicago, IL, USA.|Laboratory of Receptor Biology and Gene Expression, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA.
authors: Iain A
authors: IA
authors: Sawyer
authors: Laboratory of Receptor Biology and Gene Expression, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA.
authors: David
authors: D
authors: Sturgill
authors: Laboratory of Molecular Biology and Immunology, National Institute on Aging, National Institutes of Health, Baltimore, MD, USA.
authors: Myong-Hee
authors: MH
authors: Sung
authors: Laboratory of Receptor Biology and Gene Expression, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA.
authors: Gordon L
authors: GL
authors: Hager
authors: Department of Cell Biology, Chicago Medical School, Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science, North Chicago, IL, USA.
authors: Miroslav
authors: M
authors: Dundr
mesh_terms: D020541:Coiled Bodies / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D015894:Genome, Human; D006801:Humans; D017381:Spliceosomes; D059467:Transcriptome
keywords: Cajal bodies; RNA splicing; chromatin; genome organization; nuclear bodies; snRNPs; transcription