The interdependence of mammary-specific super-enhancers and their native promoters facilitates gene activation during pregnancy
Gene regulation: linking enhancers to specific promoters Super-enhancers are regions of DNA that highly activate the expression of specific genes. Research led by H.K.L. and L.H. at the National Institutes of Health, USA, now demonstrate that a super-enhancer is much more effective when operating in...
Main Authors: | , , , , , |
---|---|
Format: | Article |
Language: | English |
Published: |
Nature Publishing Group
2020-04-01
|
Series: | Experimental and Molecular Medicine |
Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s12276-020-0425-x |
Summary: | Gene regulation: linking enhancers to specific promoters Super-enhancers are regions of DNA that highly activate the expression of specific genes. Research led by H.K.L. and L.H. at the National Institutes of Health, USA, now demonstrate that a super-enhancer is much more effective when operating in synergy with its associated promoter, another gene-controlling element. They investigated super-enhancer and promoter synergy in mouse mammary gland cells. A mammary super-enhancer achieved a 5-fold activation of a gene with a common promoter, in contrast to an 80-fold activation with its own promoter together. The findings reveal that this synergy is critical for gene regulation in the mammary gland during pregnancy and lactation. They also help resolve the general issue of whether super-enhancers act independently or, as found here, can work together with a specific promoters in cell-specific genetic programs. |
---|---|
ISSN: | 1226-3613 2092-6413 |