In silico and wet-bench identification of nuclear matrix attachment regions

Chromatin loops are tethered at discrete regions that are approx 100-1000 bp in length. These regions of attachment serve as specific sequence landmarks, anchoring the DNA to the fibers of the chromosomal scaffold. It has been estimated that our genome contains 70,000 nuclear matrix attachment sites that serve as a dynamic nuclear organizer in both the interphase and metaphase cell. Approximately 30,000-40,000 matrix attachment regions (MARs) serve as origins of replication. MARs can also be associated with chromosomal segments densely populated with transcription factor-binding sites. This may facilitate transcription that is initiated within the region of the chromosome coincident with the surface of the nuclear matrix. Assuming an average somatic loop size of 100 kb, it is reasonable to propose that each cell utilizes 30,000 MARs to anchor each of the approx 20,000 active genic domains. This is sufficient to encompass the 30,000 functional genes in our genome that exist as members of single or multigenic families, each constituting a single chromatin domain. With the sequencing phase of various genome projects complete, in silico tools are being developed to identify the long-range control elements that modulate gene expression. This information is necessary to specifically target the time-intensive wet-bench verification and expression experiments that will provide a unified understanding of gene regulation. In this chapter we review some of the in silico strategies that are currently available and a new in vivo method based on the real-time polymerase chain reaction, to assess regions of matrix association.