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Updated: Jun 29, 2025

Author Spotlight: An Integrated Workflow to Study the Promoter-Centric Spatio-Temporal Genome Architecture in Scarce Cell Populations
Published on: April 21, 2023
Super-enhancers: drivers of cells' identities and cells' debacles
Mélanie Lavaud1, Robel Tesfaye1,2,3, Léa Lassous1
1CRCI2NA, INSERM UMR 1307, CNRS UMR 6075, Nantes University & Angers University, Medical School, Nantes, 44035, France.
Abstract:
Precise spatiotemporal regulations of gene expression are essential for determining cells' fates and functions. Enhancers are cis-acting DNA elements that act as periodic transcriptional thrusters and their activities are cell type specific. Clusters of enhancers, called super-enhancers, are more densely occupied by transcriptional activators than enhancers, driving stronger expression of their target genes, which have prominent roles in establishing and maintaining cellular identities. Here we review the current knowledge on the composition and structure of super-enhancers to understand how they robustly stimulate the expression of cellular identity genes. We also review their involvement in the development of various cell types and both noncancerous and cancerous disorders, implying the therapeutic interest of targeting them to fight against various diseases.
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