Chromatin Insulators: Regulatory Mechanisms and Epigenetic Inheritance

• Type of Material: Article
• Authors: Ashley M. Bushey, Emory University; Elizabeth R. Dorman, Emory University; Victor G. Corces, Emory University
• Language: English
• Date: 2008-10-10
• Publisher: Elsevier (Cell Press): 12 month embargo
• Publication Version: Author Accepted Manuscript (After Peer Review)
• Copyright Statement: © 2008 Elsevier Inc.
• License: Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommerical-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported
• Final Published Version (URL): http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.molcel.2008.08.017
• Title of Journal or Parent Work: Molecular Cell
• ISSN: 1097-2765
• Volume: 32
• Issue: 1
• Start Page: 1
• End Page: 9
• Keywords: Insulators; Nuclear organization; Chromatin; Epigenetic Inheritance
• Research Categories: Biology, Genetics; Biology, Cell; Biology, Molecular

Abstract

Enhancer-blocking insulators are DNA elements that disrupt the communication between a regulatory sequence, such as an enhancer or a silencer, and a promoter. Insulators participate in both transcriptional regulation and global nuclear organization, two features of chromatin that are thought to be maintained from one generation to the next through epigenetic mechanisms. Furthermore, there are many regulatory mechanisms in place that enhance or hinder insulator activity. These modes of regulation could be used to establish cell-type specific insulator activity that is epigenetically inherited along a cell and/or organismal lineage. This review will discuss the evidence for epigenetic inheritance and regulation of insulator function.