Skip to main content
Log in

The chromatin landscape of the ribosomal RNA genes in mouse and human

  • Review
  • Published:
Chromosome Research Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The rRNA genes of mouse and human encode the three major RNAs of the ribosome and as such are essential for growth and development. These genes are present in high copy numbers and arranged as direct repeats at the Nucleolar Organizer Regions on multiple chromosomes. Not all the rRNA genes are transcriptionally active, but the molecular mechanisms that determine activity are complex and still poorly understood. Recent studies applying a novel Deconvolution Chromatin Immunoprecipitation (DChIP-Seq) technique in conjunction with conditional gene inactivation provide new insights into the structure of the active rRNA genes and question previous assumptions on the role of chromatin and histone modifications. We suggest an alternative model for the active rRNA gene chromatin and discuss how this structure is determined and maintained.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3

Similar content being viewed by others

Abbreviations

RPI:

RNA polymerase I, POLR1, POL1

RPII:

RNA polymerase II, POLR2, POL2

RRN3:

RPI associated factor

rRNA:

Ribosomal RNA

rDNA:

Ribosomal DNA

SL1:

RNA polymerase 1-specific TBP-TAF complex

UBF:

Upstream binding factor, UBTF

References

Download references

Author statement

TM conceived the study and wrote the manuscript, J-CM and MGT performed experimental research, and MS-F analyzed the data from ChIP-Seq. All authors read and approved the manuscript.

Funding

This work was funded by operating grants from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR, MOP12205/PJT153266) and the National Science and Engineering Council (NSERC) of Canada. The Research Centre of the Québec University Hospital Centre (CHU de Québec) is supported by the Fonds de Recherche du Québec—Santé (FRQS).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Tom Moss.

Additional information

Responsible Editor: Jennifer Gerton and Lev Porokhovnik

Publisher’s Note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Moss, T., Mars, JC., Tremblay, M.G. et al. The chromatin landscape of the ribosomal RNA genes in mouse and human. Chromosome Res 27, 31–40 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10577-018-09603-9

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10577-018-09603-9

Keywords

Navigation