Invariant TAD Boundaries Constrain Cell-Type-Specific Looping Interactions between Promoters and Distal Elements around the Locus

Three-dimensional genome structure plays an important role in gene regulation. Globally, chromosomes are organized into active and inactive compartments while, at the gene level, looping interactions connect promoters to regulatory elements. Topologically associating domains (TADs), typically several hundred kilobases in size, form an intermediate level of organization. Major questions include how TADs are formed and how they are related to looping interactions between genes and regulatory elements.

Source: The American Journal of Human Genetics - January 7, 2016 Category: Genetics & Stem Cells Authors: Emily M. Smith, Bryan R. Lajoie, Gaurav Jain, Job Dekker Tags: Article Source Type: research