RT Journal Article SR Electronic T1 A Unified Architecture of Transcriptional Regulatory Elements JF bioRxiv FD Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory SP 019844 DO 10.1101/019844 A1 Robin Andersson A1 Albin Sandelin A1 Charles G. Danko YR 2015 UL http://biorxiv.org/content/early/2015/05/26/019844.abstract AB Gene expression is precisely controlled in time and space through the integration of signals that act at gene promoters and gene-distal enhancers. Classically, promoters and enhancers are considered separate classes of regulatory elements, often distinguished by histone modifications. However, recent studies have revealed broad similarities between enhancers and promoters, blurring the distinction: active enhancers often initiate transcription, and some gene promoters have the potential of enhancing transcriptional output of other promoters. Here, we propose a model in which promoters and enhancers are considered a single class of functional element, with a unified architecture for transcription initiation. The context of interacting regulatory elements, and surrounding sequences, determine local transcriptional output as well as the enhancer and promoter activities of individual elements.