Public release date: 23-Jun-2013 [ | E-mail | Share ] <\/p>\n
Contact: Alison Heather a.heather@garvan.org.au<\/a> 61-434-071-326 Garvan Institute of Medical Research<\/p>\n Scientists from Australia and the United States bring new insights to our understanding of the three-dimensional structure of the genome, one of the biggest challenges currently facing the fields of genomics and genetics. Their findings are published in Nature Genetics, online today. <\/p>\n Roughly 3 metres of DNA is tightly folded into the nucleus of every cell in our body. This folding allows some genes to be 'expressed', or activated, while excluding others. <\/p>\n Dr Tim Mercer and Professor John Mattick from Sydney's Garvan Institute of Medical Research and Professor John Stamatoyannopoulos from Seattle's University of Washington analysed the genome's 3D structure, at high resolution. <\/p>\n Genes are made up of 'exons' and 'introns' the former being the sequences that code for protein and are expressed, and the latter being stretches of noncoding DNA in-between. As the genes are copied, or 'transcribed', from DNA into RNA, the intron sequences are cut or 'spliced' out and the remaining exons are strung together to form a sequence that encodes a protein. Depending on which exons are strung together, the same gene can generate different proteins. <\/p>\n Using vast amounts of data from the ENCODE project*, Dr Tim Mercer and colleagues have inferred the folding of the genome, finding that even within a gene, selected exons are easily exposed. <\/p>\n \"Imagine a long and immensely convoluted grape vine, its twisted branches presenting some grapes to be plucked easily, while concealing others beyond reach,\" said Dr Mercer. \"At the same time, imagine a lazy fruit picker only picking the grapes within easy reach. <\/p>\n \"The same principle applies in the genome. Specific genes and even specific exons, are placed within easy reach by folding.\" <\/p>\n \"Over the last few years, we've been starting to appreciate just how the folding of the genome helps determine how it's expressed and regulated,\" <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Link: Public release date: 23-Jun-2013 [ | E-mail | Share ] Contact: Alison Heather a.heather@garvan.org.au<\/a> 61-434-071-326 Garvan Institute of Medical Research Scientists from Australia and the United States bring new insights to our understanding of the three-dimensional structure of the genome, one of the biggest challenges currently facing the fields of genomics and genetics. Continue reading
\nThe genome's 3-D structure shapes how genes are expressed<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"