Chromosome territories, nuclear architecture and gene regulation in mammalian cells

The expression of genes is regulated at many levels. Perhaps the area in wh ich least is known is how nuclear organization influences gene expression. Studies of higher-order chromatin arrangements and their dynamic interactio ns with other nuclear components have been boosted by recent technical adva nces. The emerging view is that chromosomes are compartmentalized into disc rete territories. The location of a gene within a chromosome territory seem s to influence its access to the machinery responsible for specific nuclear functions, such as transcription and splicing. This view is consistent wit h a topological model for gene regulation.