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Related Concept Videos

Position-effect Variegation02:32

Position-effect Variegation

In 1928, a German botanist Emil Heitz observed the moss nuclei with a DNA binding dye. He observed that while some chromatin regions decondense and spread out in the interphase nucleus, others do not. He termed them euchromatin and heterochromatin, respectively. He proposed that the heterochromatin regions reflect a functionally inactive state of the genome. It was later confirmed that heterochromatin is transcriptionally repressed, and euchromatin is transcriptionally active chromatin.
Chromatin Position Affects Gene Expression02:35

Chromatin Position Affects Gene Expression

Chromatin is the massive complex of DNA and proteins packaged inside the nucleus. The complexity of chromatin folding and how it is packaged inside the nucleus greatly influences  access to genetic information. Generally, the nucleus' periphery is considered transcriptionally repressive, while the cell's interior is considered a transcriptionally active area. 
Topologically Associated Domains (TADs)
The 3-dimensional positioning of chromatin in the nucleus influences the timing and level of...
Cell Specific Gene Expression01:58

Cell Specific Gene Expression

Multicellular organisms contain a variety of structurally and functionally distinct cell types, but the DNA in all the cells originated from the same parent cells. The differences in the cells can be attributed to the differential gene expression. Liver cells, whose functions include detoxification of blood, production of bile to metabolize fats, and synthesis of proteins essential for metabolism, must express a specific set of genes to perform their functions. Gene expression also varies with...
Cell Specific Gene Expression01:58

Cell Specific Gene Expression

Multicellular organisms contain a variety of structurally and functionally distinct cell types, but the DNA in all the cells originated from the same parent cells. The differences in the cells can be attributed to the differential gene expression. Liver cells, whose functions include detoxification of blood, production of bile to metabolize fats, and synthesis of proteins essential for metabolism, must express a specific set of genes to perform their functions. Gene expression also varies with...
Reporter Genes02:11

Reporter Genes

Reporter genes are a type of protein-coding gene that are often tagged to a gene of interest. Once inside a target cell, reporter genes usually produce visually identifiable characteristics like fluorescence and luminescence when expressed along with the gene of interest. Thus, reporter genes “report” the presence or absence of genes of interest in an organism, determine the gene expression pattern, or track the physical location of a DNA segment or protein in the cell.
Commonly used reporter...
Organization of Genes02:07

Organization of Genes

Overview

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 31, 2026

Promoter Capture Hi-C: High-resolution, Genome-wide Profiling of Promoter Interactions
10:16

Promoter Capture Hi-C: High-resolution, Genome-wide Profiling of Promoter Interactions

Published on: June 28, 2018

Variegated gene expression caused by cell-specific long-range DNA interactions.

Daan Noordermeer1, Elzo de Wit, Petra Klous

  • 1Hubrecht Institute-KNAW and University Medical Center Utrecht, Uppsalalaan 8, 3584 CT Utrecht, The Netherlands.

Nature Cell Biology
|June 28, 2011
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Researchers studied how DNA regulators find target genes using mice with an extra β-globin locus control region (LCR). They found regulators search limited areas, contacting genes with shared factors, and trans activation is rare, occurring in specific cells.

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Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: May 31, 2026

Promoter Capture Hi-C: High-resolution, Genome-wide Profiling of Promoter Interactions
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Promoter Capture Hi-C: High-resolution, Genome-wide Profiling of Promoter Interactions

Published on: June 28, 2018

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An Optogenetic Method to Control and Analyze Gene Expression Patterns in Cell-to-cell Interactions

Published on: March 22, 2018

An Allele-specific Gene Expression Assay to Test the Functional Basis of Genetic Associations
10:17

An Allele-specific Gene Expression Assay to Test the Functional Basis of Genetic Associations

Published on: November 3, 2010

Area of Science:

  • Genomics
  • Molecular Biology
  • Epigenetics

Background:

  • Mammalian genomes possess numerous regulatory DNA elements with unidentified target genes.
  • Understanding how these elements locate their targets is crucial for deciphering gene regulation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the mechanism by which a DNA regulatory element, the β-globin locus control region (LCR), searches the genome for its target genes.
  • To determine the frequency and cellular context of trans activation mediated by long-range DNA interactions.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized genetically modified mice harboring an additional β-globin locus control region (LCR).
  • Analyzed the spatial sampling of the genome by the LCR within the nucleus.
  • Assessed gene expression changes in proximity to the LCR, including genes on different chromosomes.

Main Results:

  • The LCR samples a confined nuclear subvolume, interacting preferentially with genes regulated by common transcription factors.
  • Upregulation of contacted genes was minimal, with the exception of endogenous β-globin genes located on a separate chromosome.
  • Demonstrated that trans activation is genetically possible in mammals but occurs infrequently.

Conclusions:

  • Trans activation is not a pan-cellular phenomenon but occurs in specific 'jackpot' cells where interchromosomal interactions are enriched.
  • Cell-specific, long-range DNA contacts can lead to variegated gene expression patterns.
  • The findings provide insights into the principles governing genome searching by regulatory elements and the mechanisms underlying differential gene expression.