Genome complexity: 3-D arrangement (Introduction)

by David Turell , Monday, June 24, 2013, 16:10 (4171 days ago) @ David Turell

"Imagine a long and immensely convoluted grape vine, its twisted branches presenting some grapes to be plucked easily, while concealing others beyond reach," said Dr Mercer. "At the same time, imagine a lazy fruit picker only picking the grapes within easy reach.
 
"The same principle applies in the genome. Specific genes and even specific exons, are placed within easy reach by folding."
 
"Over the last few years, we've been starting to appreciate just how the folding of the genome helps determine how it's expressed and regulated,"
 
"This study provides the first indication that the three-dimensional structure of the genome can influence the splicing of genes."
 
"We can infer that the genome is folded in such a way that the promoter region—the sequence that initiates transcription of a gene—is located alongside exons, and they are all presented to transcription machinery."
 
"This supports a new way of looking at things, one that the genome is folded around transcription machinery, rather than the other way around. Those genes that come in contact with the transcription machinery get transcribed, while those parts which loop away are ignored."-
 Read more at: http://phys.org/news/2013-06-genome-3d-genes.html#jCp