My Account Log in

1 option

Quantitative Analysis on Enhancer-Mediated Dynamic Gene Regulation in Drosophila Embryos Hao Deng

Dissertations & Theses @ University of Pennsylvania Available online

View online
Format:
Book
Thesis/Dissertation
Author/Creator:
Deng, Hao, author.
Contributor:
University of Pennsylvania. Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering., degree granting institution.
Language:
English
Subjects (All):
Molecular biology.
Genetics.
Biology.
Medical imaging.
0307.
0369.
0306.
0574.
Local Subjects:
Molecular biology.
Genetics.
Biology.
Medical imaging.
0307.
0369.
0306.
0574.
Physical Description:
1 electronic resource (92 pages)
Contained In:
Dissertations Abstracts International 86-07B
Place of Publication:
Ann Arbor : ProQuest Dissertations and Theses, 2024
Language Note:
English
Summary:
While enhancers, essential for gene regulation and organism development, have been extensively studied, particularly regarding the mechanisms underlying how enhancers initiate transcription at the target genes. However, the spatiotemporal information of enhancer-mediated interactions remains unclear, especially within complex gene environments. Using quantitative live imaging in early Drosophila embryos, we explored the dynamics of enhancer-promoter interactions and their impact on gene expression, revealing several key findings. First, we observed that each reporter gene experienced a reduction in transcription in homozygotes when driven by strong enhancer-promoter interactions, which suggested a competitive relationship between homologous genes. By dissecting the homologous regulatory unit into "enhancer only" and "promoter only" constructs, we demonstrated that the interallelic competition persists in both genotypes, indicating that the limiting transcription machinery can be RNA polymerase II and pre-initiation complex molecules that bind to both enhancer and promoter regions. Second, we investigated spatiotemporal thresholds of transcription initiation and found that the enhancer had to be less than 500 nm away from its target promoter for longer than four minutes to initiate transcription. The precise spatiotemporal requirement highlights the importance of sustained proximity in gene activation and sheds insights into achieving precise gene control. In both studies, evidence supports the hypothesis that transcription hubs form at the regulatory elements, facilitating transcription with a local concentration of transcription machinery. These findings significantly advance our understanding of the dynamics of enhancer-promoter interplay and gene regulation at the single-cell level. The knowledge gained from these studies serves as a stepping stone toward achieving precise gene control in various biological contexts, from developmental processes to potential therapeutic applications
Notes:
Source: Dissertations Abstracts International, Volume: 86-07, Section: B.
Advisors: Lim, Bomyi Committee members: Bugaj, Lukasz J.; Crocker, John C.; Diamond, Scott L.
Ph.D. University of Pennsylvania 2024
Local Notes:
School code: 0175
ISBN:
9798302184344
Access Restriction:
Restricted for use by site license

The Penn Libraries is committed to describing library materials using current, accurate, and responsible language. If you discover outdated or inaccurate language, please fill out this feedback form to report it and suggest alternative language.

Find

Home Release notes

My Account

Shelf Request an item Bookmarks Fines and fees Settings

Guides

Using the Find catalog Using Articles+ Using your account