Nuclear bodies: multifunctional companions of the genome

It has become increasingly apparent that gene expression is regulated by the functional interplay between spatial genome organization and nuclear architecture. Within the nuclear environment a variety of distinct nuclear bodies exist. They are dynamic, self-organizing structures that do not assemble as pre-formed entities but rather emerge as a direct reflection of specific activities associated with gene expression and genome maintenance. Here I summarize recent findings on functions of some of the most prominent nuclear bodies, including the nucleolus, Cajal body, PML nuclear body, Polycomb group body and the 53BP1 nuclear body. The emerging view is that their organization is orchestrated by similar principles, and they function in fundamental cellular processes involved in homeostasis, differentiation, development and disease.