Large-scale analysis of the regulatory architecture of the mouse genome with a transposon-associated sensor

Nat Genet. 2011 Mar 20;43(4):379-86. doi: 10.1038/ng.790.

Abstract

We present here a Sleeping Beauty-based transposition system that offers a simple and efficient way to investigate the regulatory architecture of mammalian chromosomes in vivo. With this system, we generated several hundred mice and embryos, each with a regulatory sensor inserted at a random genomic position. This large sampling of the genome revealed the widespread presence of long-range regulatory activities along chromosomes, forming overlapping blocks with distinct tissue-specific expression potentials. The presence of tissue-restricted regulatory activities around genes with widespread expression patterns challenges the gene-centric view of genome regulation and suggests that most genes are modulated in a tissue-specific manner. The local hopping property of Sleeping Beauty provides a dynamic approach to map these regulatory domains at high resolution and, combined with Cre-mediated recombination, allows for the determination of their functions by engineering mice with specific chromosomal rearrangements.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Chromosome Mapping
  • DNA Transposable Elements / genetics*
  • Enhancer Elements, Genetic
  • Female
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental
  • Genes, Reporter
  • Genetic Techniques*
  • Genome*
  • Gestational Age
  • Humans
  • Lac Operon
  • Mice
  • Mice, Transgenic
  • Pregnancy
  • Regulatory Sequences, Nucleic Acid
  • Transposases / genetics

Substances

  • DNA Transposable Elements
  • Transposases
  • sleeping beauty transposase, human