The 3D organization of the yeast genome correlates with co-expression and reflects functional relations between genes

PLoS One. 2013;8(1):e54699. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0054699. Epub 2013 Jan 31.

Abstract

The spatial organization of eukaryotic genomes is thought to play an important role in regulating gene expression. The recent advances in experimental methods including chromatin capture techniques, as well as the large amounts of accumulated gene expression data allow studying the relationship between spatial organization of the genome and co-expression of protein-coding genes. To analyse this genome-wide relationship at a single gene resolution, we combined the interchromosomal DNA contacts in the yeast genome measured by Duan et al. with a comprehensive collection of 1,496 gene expression datasets. We find significant enhancement of co-expression among genes with contact links. The co-expression is most prominent when two gene loci fall within 1,000 base pairs from the observed contact. We also demonstrate an enrichment of inter-chromosomal links between functionally related genes, which suggests that the non random nature of the genome organization serves to facilitate coordinated transcription in groups of genes.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Chromosomes, Fungal
  • Cluster Analysis
  • Epistasis, Genetic
  • Gene Expression Profiling
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Fungal*
  • Gene Regulatory Networks
  • Genetic Loci
  • Genome, Fungal*
  • Yeasts / genetics*
  • Yeasts / metabolism*

Grants and funding

This research was supported partly by March of Dimes grant 5-FY10-136 and partly by startup funds provided by University of Texas Medical Branch. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.