Establishing cell-type-specific gene expression programs relies on the action of distal enhancers, cis-regulatory elements that can activate target genes over large genomic distances - up to Mega-bases away. How distal enhancers physically relay regulatory information to target promoters has remained a mystery. Here, we review the latest developments and insights into promoter-enhancer communication mechanisms revealed by live-cell, real-time single-molecule imaging approaches.
Keywords: enhancers; genome organization; optical nanoscopy; single-molecule approaches; transcription.
© 2021 The Author(s). Published by Portland Press Limited on behalf of the Biochemical Society.