Dynamic kissing model for enhancer-promoter communication on the surface of transcriptional condensates
Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: Enhancer-promoter (E-P) communication is essential for gene transcription regulation in eukaryotes. Transcriptional condensates, which may form via liquid-liquid phase separation, are thought to enable E-P interactions. However, the kinetic mechanism of condensate-mediated E-P contacts and their effect on gene expression are unclear. Here we use a polymer physics-based model to investigate E-P communication in different condensate configurations. We find that E-P interactions are most consistent with experimental data when they occur on the surface of spherical condensates. Based on this finding, we propose a gene expression regulation model in which enhancers and promoters dynamically ``kiss'' on the condensate surface. We also show that our model can account for the phenomenon of gene expression bursting, as observed by single-molecule tracking. Our model provides a simple yet powerful framework for understanding enhancer-mediated gene regulation.
Source: Physical review. E
Authors: Qing Zhang, Hualin Shi, Zhihua Zhang
Language: English
Subfield: Molecular Biology
Domain: Life Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W4410089410