Transcription-driven genome organization: A model for chromosome structure and the regulation of gene expression tested through simulations

Peter R. Cook, Davide Marenduzzo*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Current models for the folding of the human genome see a hierarchy stretching down from chromosome territories, through A/B compartments and topologically-associating domains (TADs), to contact domains stabilized by cohesin and CTCF. However, molecular mechanisms underlying this folding, and the way folding affects transcriptional activity, remain obscure. Here we review physical principles driving proteins bound to long polymers into clusters surrounded by loops, and present a parsimonious yet comprehensive model for the way the organization determines function. We argue that clusters of active RNA polymerases and their transcription factors are major architectural features; then, contact domains, TADs and compartments just reflect one or more loops and clusters. We suggest tethering a gene close to a cluster containing appropriate factors––a transcription factory––increases the firing frequency, and offer solutions to many current puzzles concerning the actions of enhancers, super-enhancers, boundaries and eQTLs (expression quantitative trait loci). As a result, the activity of any gene is directly influenced by the activity of other transcription units around it in 3D space, and this is supported by Brownian-dynamics simulations of transcription factors binding to cognate sites on long polymers.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)9895-9906
Number of pages12
JournalNucleic Acids Research
Volume46
Issue number19
Early online date18 Sept 2018
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2 Nov 2018

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