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Long-Range Chromatin Interactions in Cells

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Biophysics of DNA-Protein Interactions

Part of the book series: Biological and Medical Physics, Biomedical Engineering ((BIOMEDICAL))

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Abstract

Interactions between long-range genetic elements play key roles in regulating gene expression in a spatially and temporally restricted manner during differentiation and development in higher eukaryotic cells. With the aid of new technologies for analyzing chromatin structural organization, new long-range chromatin interactions have been discovered and interaction networks have been proposed. The underlying mechanisms by which these interactions influence gene expression have been explored at the level of three-dimensional chromatin structure. It has been possible to delineate the critical roles of two global regulator proteins, special AT-rich binding protein 1 and CTCF, in bridging long-range chromatin loops. This chapter discusses potential contributions of transcription factors, regulatory adaptor proteins, histone modifications, and noncoding RNAs in the formation of long-range chromatin interactions. The cellular consequences of chromatin topology regulation as well as methodologies used in the study of chromatin conformation are described.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Genetics, Harvard Medical School, Center for Computational and Integrative Biology, Massachusetts General Hospital, 185 Cambridge Street, Boston, MA, 02114-2790, USA

    Guo Ling Zhou

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  1. Guo Ling Zhou
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  2. Li Xin
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  3. De Pei Liu
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Correspondence to Guo Ling Zhou .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Dept. Physics, Northeastern University, Forsyth Street 110, Boston, 02115, Massachusetts, USA

    Mark C. Williams

  2. College of Medicine, Dept. Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Mayo Clinic, First Street SW., 200, Rochester, 55905, Minnesota, USA

    L. James Maher III

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Zhou, G.L., Xin, L., De Pei Liu (2010). Long-Range Chromatin Interactions in Cells. In: Williams, M., Maher, L. (eds) Biophysics of DNA-Protein Interactions. Biological and Medical Physics, Biomedical Engineering. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-0-387-92808-1_14

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-0-387-92808-1_14

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  • Online ISBN: 978-0-387-92808-1

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