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Mechanisms of enhancer action: the known and the unknown

Differential gene expression mechanisms ensure cellular differentiation and plasticity to shape ontogenetic and phylogenetic diversity of cell types. A key regulator of differential gene expression programs are the enhancers, the gene-distal cis-regulatory sequences that govern spatiotemporal and qu...

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores principales: Panigrahi, Anil, O’Malley, Bert W.
Formato: Online Artículo Texto
Lenguaje:English
Publicado: BioMed Central 2021
Materias:
Acceso en línea:https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8051032/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/33858480
http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/s13059-021-02322-1
Descripción
Sumario:Differential gene expression mechanisms ensure cellular differentiation and plasticity to shape ontogenetic and phylogenetic diversity of cell types. A key regulator of differential gene expression programs are the enhancers, the gene-distal cis-regulatory sequences that govern spatiotemporal and quantitative expression dynamics of target genes. Enhancers are widely believed to physically contact the target promoters to effect transcriptional activation. However, our understanding of the full complement of regulatory proteins and the definitive mechanics of enhancer action is incomplete. Here, we review recent findings to present some emerging concepts on enhancer action and also outline a set of outstanding questions. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s13059-021-02322-1.