Re-positioning genes to the nuclear envelope in mammalian cells: impact on transcription

The spatial organization of the genome within the nucleus is thought to contribute to genome functions. A key component of the nuclear architecture is the nuclear envelope, which is often associated with inactive chromatin. Studies in budding yeast indicate that nuclear position can directly affect gene function. However, the causal relationship between gene position and gene activity in mammalian cells has been more elusive. Several groups recently addressed this issue by tethering genes to the inner nuclear membrane. Their studies show that the nuclear periphery is not refractory to gene transcription, but can modulate the activity of certain genes. The 3D organization of the genome might, thus, provide an additional level of regulation necessary for fine-tuning gene expression.