Conformation and dynamics of the mammalian chromosome

Abstract

The control of transcription represents a fundamental, initial mechanism by which the regulation of gene expression is implemented. However, while much research has been done on the biochemistry and cellular function of transcription, comparatively little is known on the dynamics of transcriptional mechanisms, their impact on chromatin structure, and concomitant functional consequences. Employing chromatin immunoprecipitation measurements, we report progress towards this goal. We characterize the ensemble chromosome conformation in mouse embryonic stem cells, by measuring interaction, or contact, probabilities between distal genomic loci. We map and describe chromosome loops, consisting of two interacting CTCF sites co-bound by cohesin, that maintain the expression of genes known to promote cell identity, and restrict the expression of genes specifying repressed developmental lineages.