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Review
. 2019 Aug;20(8):437-455.
doi: 10.1038/s41576-019-0128-0.

Long-range enhancer-promoter contacts in gene expression control

Stefan Schoenfelder  1   2 , Peter Fraser  3   4
Affiliations
Review

Long-range enhancer-promoter contacts in gene expression control

Stefan Schoenfelder et al. Nat Rev Genet. 2019 Aug.

Abstract

Spatiotemporal gene expression programmes are orchestrated by transcriptional enhancers, which are key regulatory DNA elements that engage in physical contacts with their target-gene promoters, often bridging considerable genomic distances. Recent progress in genomics, genome editing and microscopy methodologies have enabled the genome-wide mapping of enhancer-promoter contacts and their functional dissection. In this Review, we discuss novel concepts on how enhancer-promoter interactions are established and maintained, how the 3D architecture of mammalian genomes both facilitates and constrains enhancer-promoter contacts, and the role they play in gene expression control during normal development and disease.

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