Work

DNA supercoiling allows enhancer action over a large distance

Year: 2001

Type: article

Abstract: Enhancers are regulatory DNA elements that can activate their genomic targets over a large distance. The mechanism of enhancer action over large distance is unknown. Activation of the glnAp2 promoter by NtrC-dependent enhancer in Escherichia coli was analyzed by using a purified system supporting multiple-round transcription in vitro. The data suggest that DNA supercoiling is an essential requirement for enhancer action over a large distance (2,500 bp) but not over a short distance (110 bp). DNA supercoiling facilitates functional enhancer-promoter communication over a large distance, probably by bringing the enhancer and promoter into close proximity.

Source: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences

DOI: 10.1073/pnas.261477898

Authors: Ye Liu, Vladimir Bondarenko, Alexander Ninfa, Vasily M. Studitsky

Institutions: Wayne State University, University of Michigan

Language: English

Topic: Genomics and Chromatin Dynamics

Subfield: Molecular Biology

Field: Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology

Domain: Life Sciences

Open Access status: green

Funders: National Institutes of Health, National Institute of General Medical Sciences

Awards: G1035068280, G1667130490, G9000180209