Table of contents

1. Introduction to Genetics51m
2. Mendel's Laws of Inheritance3h 37m
3. Extensions to Mendelian Inheritance2h 41m
4. Genetic Mapping and Linkage2h 28m
5. Genetics of Bacteria and Viruses1h 21m
6. Chromosomal Variation1h 48m
7. DNA and Chromosome Structure56m
8. DNA Replication1h 10m
9. Mitosis and Meiosis1h 34m
10. Transcription1h 0m
11. Translation58m
12. Gene Regulation in Prokaryotes1h 19m
13. Gene Regulation in Eukaryotes44m
14. Genetic Control of Development44m
15. Genomes and Genomics1h 50m
16. Transposable Elements47m
17. Mutation, Repair, and Recombination1h 6m
18. Molecular Genetic Tools19m
- Genetic Cloning
  9m
- Methods for Analyzing DNA
  9m
19. Cancer Genetics29m
- Overview of Cancer
  21m
- Cancer Mutations
  7m
20. Quantitative Genetics1h 26m
21. Population Genetics50m
- Hardy Weinberg
  19m
- Allelic Frequency Changes
  31m
22. Evolutionary Genetics29m

13. Gene Regulation in Eukaryotes

Overview of Eukaryotic Gene Regulation

Genetics

13. Gene Regulation in Eukaryotes

Overview of Eukaryotic Gene Regulation

Previous problemNext problem

1:11 minutes

Problem 12

Textbook Question

Enhancers can influence the transcription of genes far away on the same chromosome. How are the effects of enhancers restricted so that they do not exert inappropriate transcriptional activation of non-target genes?

Verified step by step guidance

Understand that enhancers are DNA sequences that can increase the transcription of specific target genes, even if they are located far away on the same chromosome.

Recognize that the specificity of enhancer action is controlled by the three-dimensional folding of chromatin, which brings enhancers into physical proximity with their target promoters through DNA looping.

Learn about insulator elements or boundary elements, which are DNA sequences that act as barriers to prevent enhancers from interacting with non-target genes by blocking the spread of activating signals.

Consider the role of architectural proteins, such as CTCF and cohesin, which help organize chromatin loops and define topologically associating domains (TADs) that restrict enhancer-promoter interactions within specific regions.

Summarize that the combination of chromatin structure, insulators, and architectural proteins ensures that enhancers activate only their intended target genes, preventing inappropriate transcriptional activation of neighboring genes.

Verified video answer for a similar problem:

This video solution was recommended by our tutors as helpful for the problem above

Video duration:

Play a video:

Was this helpful?

Key Concepts

Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.

Enhancer-Promoter Specificity

Enhancers regulate gene expression by interacting with specific promoters, often through DNA looping that brings them into close physical proximity. This specificity ensures that enhancers activate only their target genes despite being located far away on the chromosome.

Chromatin Architecture and Topologically Associating Domains (TADs)

Chromosomes are organized into TADs, which are regions where DNA sequences interact more frequently with each other than with sequences outside the domain. TAD boundaries act as insulators, restricting enhancer activity to genes within the same domain and preventing inappropriate activation of neighboring genes.

Insulator Elements and Boundary Proteins

Insulators are DNA elements bound by proteins like CTCF that block enhancer-promoter interactions across domains. These boundary elements create physical barriers that prevent enhancers from activating non-target genes, maintaining precise gene regulation.

Watch next

Master Review of Regulation with a bite sized video explanation from Kylia

Start learning

Related Videos

Related Practice

Textbook Question

What are processing bodies (P bodies), and what role do they play in mRNA regulation?

1099

views

Textbook Question

Explain how the addition of acetyl groups to histones leads to a weaker association of DNA in nucleosomes.

348

views

Textbook Question

Compare and contrast promoters and enhancers with respect to their location (upstream versus downstream), orientation, and distance (in base pairs) relative to a gene they regulate.

586

views

Textbook Question

Distinguish between the cis-acting regulatory elements referred to as promoters and enhancers.

454

views

Textbook Question

What is one proposed role for lncRNAs?

760

views

Textbook Question

What are the sources of dsRNA? Diagram the mechanisms by which dsRNAs are produced and processed into small RNAs.