Antisense transcription can induce expression memory via stable promoter repression.

ABSTRACT:

Background

The capacity of cells to retain a memory of previous signals enables acquisition of unique fates and adaptation to their environment. The underlying gene expression memory can arise from mutual repression of two genes, forming a toggle switch. Mutual repression can occur at antisense loci, where convergent genes repress each other in cis. The conditions for generating expression memory via antisense transcription remain poorly understood. To address this question, we combine mathematical modeling, genomics and a synthetic biology approach.

Results

Simulations demonstrate stable memory emergence when both genes in an antisense pair transcribe via the convergent promoter and induce a stable repressive chromatin state. Genome-wide analysis of nascent transcription su

SUBMITTER: Mutzel V 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12720443 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature