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Large-Scale Nuclear Architecture and Transcriptional Control

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A Handbook of Transcription Factors

Part of the book series: Subcellular Biochemistry ((SCBI,volume 52))

Abstract

Transcriptional regulation is one the most basic mechanisms for controlling gene expression. Over the past few years, much research has been devoted to understanding the interplay between transcription factors, histone modifications and associated enzymes required to achieve this control. However, it is becoming increasingly apparent that the three-dimensional conformation of chromatin in the interphase nucleus also plays a critical role in regulating transcription. Chromatin localisation in the nucleus is highly organised, and early studies described strong interactions between chromatin and sub-nuclear components. Single-gene studies have shed light on how chromosomal architecture affects gene expression. Lately, this has been complemented by whole-genome studies that have determined the global chromatin conformation of living cells in interphase. These studies have greatly expanded our understanding of nuclear architecture and its interplay with different physiological processes. Despite these advances, however, most of the mechanisms used to impose the three-dimensional chromatin structure remain unknown. Here, we summarise the different levels of chromatin organisation in the nucleus and discuss current efforts into characterising the mechanisms that govern it.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. EMBL-European Bioinformatics Institute, CB10 1SD, Cambridge, UK

    Juan M. Vaquerizas & Nicholas M. Luscombe

  2. Laboratory of Chromatin Regulation, Max Planck Institute of Immunobiology, 79108, Freiburg, Germany

    Asifa Akhtar

  3. Genome Biology Unit, European Molecular Biology Laboratory, 69117, Heidelberg, Germany

    Nicholas M. Luscombe

  4. EMBL-Heidelberg Genome Biology Unit, D-69117, Heidelberg, Germany

    Nicholas M. Luscombe

Authors
  1. Juan M. Vaquerizas
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  2. Asifa Akhtar
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  3. Nicholas M. Luscombe
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Correspondence to Juan M. Vaquerizas .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. , Centre for Cellular and Biomolecular Res, University of Toronto, College St. 160, Toronto, M5S 3E1, Canada

    Timothy R. Hughes

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Vaquerizas, J.M., Akhtar, A., Luscombe, N.M. (2011). Large-Scale Nuclear Architecture and Transcriptional Control. In: Hughes, T. (eds) A Handbook of Transcription Factors. Subcellular Biochemistry, vol 52. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-90-481-9069-0_13

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