Strand bias structure in mouse DNA gives a glimpse of how chromatin structure affects gene expression.

ABSTRACT:

Background

On a single strand of genomic DNA the number of As is usually about equal to the number of Ts (and similarly for Gs and Cs), but deviations have been noted for transcribed regions and origins of replication.

Results

The mouse genome is shown to have a segmented structure defined by strand bias. Transcription is known to cause a strand bias and numerous analyses are presented to show that the strand bias in question is not caused by transcription. However, these strand bias segments influence the position of genes and their unspliced length. The position of genes within the strand bias structure affects the probability that a gene is switched on and its expression level. Transcription has a highly directional flow within this structure and the peak volume of transc

SUBMITTER: Evans KJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2266913 | biostudies-literature | 2008 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature