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Causes and consequences of nuclear gene positioning
1National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA shachars@mail.nih.gov.
Journal of Cell Science
|April 14, 2017
Summary
The eukaryotic genome folds within the nucleus, with specific gene positioning influencing function. Recent studies reveal diverse cellular mechanisms, like nuclear periphery tethering, drive this spatial genome organization.
Area of Science:
- Genomics
- Cell Biology
- Molecular Biology
Background:
- The eukaryotic genome is spatially organized within the nucleus to enable function.
- Non-random positioning of genomic loci is a key principle of genome organization.
- Mechanisms and functional consequences of locus positioning are under active investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review recent findings on cellular mechanisms of spatial genome organization.
- To highlight how gene positioning impacts cellular function.
- To provide insight into the functional consequences of genome positioning.
Main Methods:
- Review of recent findings from candidate approaches.
- Analysis of unbiased screening methods.
- Integration of data from yeast, plants, and mammals.
Main Results:
- Multiple, gene-specific mechanisms contribute to genome positioning.
- A wide range of cellular machineries are involved in positioning.
- Specific mechanisms include tethering to the nuclear periphery, S-phase passage, and histone modifications.
Conclusions:
- Spatial genome organization is achieved through diverse, specific mechanisms.
- Genome positioning plays a crucial role in cellular function.
- Further research is needed to fully characterize these positioning mechanisms and their functional impact.