The Many Roles of Cohesin in Drosophila Gene Transcription.
- Resource Type
- Article
- Authors
- Dorsett, Dale
- Source
- Trends in Genetics. Jul2019, Vol. 35 Issue 7, p542-551. 10p.
- Subject
- Language
- ISSN
- 0168-9525
The cohesin protein complex mediates sister chromatid cohesion to ensure accurate chromosome segregation, and also influences gene transcription in higher eukaryotes. Modest deficits in cohesin function that do not alter chromosome segregation cause significant birth defects. The mechanisms by which cohesin participates in gene regulation have been studied in Drosophila , revealing that it is involved in gene activation by transcriptional enhancers and epigenetic gene silencing mediated by Polycomb group proteins. Recent studies reveal that early DNA replication origins are important for determining which genes associate with cohesin, and suggest that cohesin at replication origins is important for establishing both sister chromatid cohesion and enhancer–promoter communication. Cohesin participates in gene activation and Polycomb repressive complex function via multiple mechanisms. Cohesin association with transcriptional enhancers and gene promoters is linked to their proximity to early DNA replication origins. Cohesin association with early replication origins may be important for establishing both sister chromatid cohesion and enhancer–promoter communication. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]