Principles of long-range gene regulation

Transcription from gene promoters occurs in specific spatiotemporal patterns in multicellular organisms, controlled by genomic regulatory elements. The communication between a regulatory element and a promoter requires a certain degree of physical proximity between them; hence, most gene regulation occurs locally in the genome. However, recent discoveries have revealed long-range gene regulation strategies that enhance interactions between regulatory elements and promoters by overcoming the distances between them in the linear genome. These new findings challenge the traditional view of how gene expression patterns are controlled. This review examines long-range gene regulation strategies recently reported in Drosophila and mammals, offering insights into their mechanisms and evolution.