Two unrelated distal genes activated by a shared enhancer benefit from localizing inside the same small topological domain.

ABSTRACT: Enhancers are tissue-specific regulatory DNA elements that can activate transcription of genes over distance. Their target genes most often are located in the same contact domain-chromosomal entities formed by cohesin DNA loop extrusion and typically flanked by CTCF-bound boundaries. Enhancers shared by multiple unrelated genes are underexplored but may be more common than anticipated. Here, we analyzed the interplay between an enhancer and two distal functionally unrelated genes residing at opposite domain boundaries. The enhancer strongly activated their expression and supported their frequent interactions. Cohesin structured the domain and supported their transcription, but the genes did not rely on each other's transcription or show gene competition. Deleting either domain boundary not

SUBMITTER: Huang Y 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11874980 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature