scholarly journals A Unified Architecture of Transcriptional Regulatory Elements

2015 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robin Andersson ◽  
Albin Sandelin ◽  
Charles G Danko
Keyword(s):  
Gene Expression ◽  
Histone Modifications ◽  
Transcription Initiation ◽  
Regulatory Elements ◽  
Functional Element ◽  
Gene Promoters ◽  
Single Class ◽  
Transcriptional Regulatory Elements ◽  
Transcriptional Regulatory ◽  
Transcriptional Output

Gene expression is precisely controlled in time and space through the integration of signals that act at gene promoters and gene-distal enhancers. Classically, promoters and enhancers are considered separate classes of regulatory elements, often distinguished by histone modifications. However, recent studies have revealed broad similarities between enhancers and promoters, blurring the distinction: active enhancers often initiate transcription, and some gene promoters have the potential of enhancing transcriptional output of other promoters. Here, we propose a model in which promoters and enhancers are considered a single class of functional element, with a unified architecture for transcription initiation. The context of interacting regulatory elements, and surrounding sequences, determine local transcriptional output as well as the enhancer and promoter activities of individual elements.

scholarly journals BAP1 constrains pervasive H2AK119ub1 to control the transcriptional potential of the genome

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nadezda A. Fursova ◽  
Anne H. Turberfield ◽  
Neil P. Blackledge ◽  
Emma L. Findlater ◽  
Anna Lastuvkova ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Gene Expression ◽  
Histone Modifications ◽  
Transcription Initiation ◽  
Target Genes ◽  
Regulatory Elements ◽  
Polycomb Group ◽  
Gene Promoters ◽  
Histone H2a ◽  
Gene Regulatory Elements ◽  
Gene Regulatory

AbstractHistone-modifying systems play fundamental roles in gene regulation and the development of multicellular organisms. Histone modifications that are enriched at gene regulatory elements have been heavily studied, but the function of modifications that are found more broadly throughout the genome remains poorly understood. This is exemplified by histone H2A mono-ubiquitylation (H2AK119ub1) which is enriched at Polycomb-repressed gene promoters, but also covers the genome at lower levels. Here, using inducible genetic perturbations and quantitative genomics, we discover that the BAP1 deubiquitylase plays an essential role in constraining H2AK119ub1 throughout the genome. Removal of BAP1 leads to pervasive accumulation of H2AK119ub1, which causes widespread reductions in gene expression. We show that elevated H2AK119ub1 represses gene expression by counteracting transcription initiation from gene regulatory elements, causing reductions in transcription-associated histone modifications. Furthermore, failure to constrain pervasive H2AK119ub1 compromises Polycomb complex occupancy at a subset of Polycomb target genes leading to their derepression, therefore explaining the original genetic characterisation of BAP1 as a Polycomb group gene. Together, these observations reveal that the transcriptional potential of the genome can be modulated by regulating the levels of a pervasive histone modification, without the need for elaborate gene-specific targeting mechanisms.

scholarly journals Ligand-induced native G-quadruplex stabilization impairs transcription initiation

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Conghui Li ◽  
Honghong Wang ◽  
Zhinang Yin ◽  
Pingping Fang ◽  
Ruijing Xiao ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Rna Polymerase ◽  
Rna Polymerase Ii ◽  
Gene Transcription ◽  
Transcription Initiation ◽  
Regulatory Elements ◽  
Gene Promoters ◽  
Drug Induced ◽  
Transcriptional Regulatory Elements ◽  
Genome Wide ◽  
Self Association

G-quadruplexes (G4s) are noncanonical DNA secondary structures formed through the self-association of guanines, and G4s are distributed widely across the genome. G4 participates in multiple biological processes including gene transcription, and G4-targeted ligands serve as potential therapeutic agents for DNA-targeted therapies. However, genome-wide studies of the exact roles of G4s in transcriptional regulation are still lacking. Here, we establish a sensitive G4-CUT&Tag method for genome-wide profiling of native G4s with high resolution and specificity. We find that native G4 signals are cell type–specific and are associated with transcriptional regulatory elements carrying active epigenetic modifications. Drug-induced promoter-proximal RNA polymerase II pausing promotes nearby G4 formation. In contrast, G4 stabilization by G4-targeted ligands globally reduces RNA polymerase II occupancy at gene promoters as well as nascent RNA synthesis. Moreover, ligand-induced G4 stabilization modulates chromatin states and impedes transcription initiation via inhibition of general transcription factors loading to promoters. Together, our study reveals a reciprocal genome-wide regulation between native G4 dynamics and gene transcription, which will deepen our understanding of G4 biology toward therapeutically targeting G4s in human diseases.

scholarly journals Identification of transcriptional regulatory elements in human mitochondrial DNA by linker substitution analysis.

1989 ◽  
Vol 9 (3) ◽  
pp. 1200-1211 ◽  
Author(s):  
J N Topper ◽  
D A Clayton
Keyword(s):  
Mitochondrial Dna ◽  
Transcription Initiation ◽  
Regulatory Elements ◽  
Base Pairs ◽  
Transcriptional Initiation ◽  
Human Mitochondrial Dna ◽  
Transcriptional Regulatory Elements ◽  
Regulatory Domains ◽  
Transcriptional Regulatory ◽  
Minimal Sequences

Human mitochondrial DNA contains two major promoters, one for transcription of each strand of the helix. Previous mapping and mutagenesis data have localized these regulatory elements and have suggested regions important to their function. In order to define, at high resolution, the sequences critical for accurate and efficient transcriptional initiation, a linker substitution analysis of the entire promoter region was performed. Each promoter was shown to consist of approximately 50 base pairs comprising two functionally distinct elements. These and previous data strongly support a mode of transcription initiation requiring minimal sequences surrounding the initiation sites that are likely interactive with core polymerase and upstream regulatory domains capable of binding a transcription factor that modulates the efficiency of transcription initiation. Furthermore, in at least one case, this upstream regulatory domain is capable of operating bidirectionally.

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