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Nature 377, 209-213 (21 September 1995) | doi:10.1038/377209a0; Accepted 4 August 1995

Transcription complex stability and chromatin dynamics in vivo

Mark Wijgerde*, Frank Grosveld*ᤠ & Peter Fraser*

  1. *MGC Department of Cell Biology and Genetics, Erasmus University, 3015 GE Rotterdam, The Netherlands
  2. ᤠLaboratory of Gene Structure and Expression, National Institute for Medical Research, The Ridgeway, Mill Hill, London NW7 1AA, UK
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Distant regulatory sequences affect transcription through long-range chromatin interactions. Visualization of transcriptional activity of genes that compete for distant elements, using the globin locus as a model, has revealed the dynamics of chromatin interactions in vivo. Multiple genes appear to be transcribed alternately rather than at the same time to generate several messenger RNAs in one cell. The regulator may stably complex with one gene at a time and switch back and forth between genes in a flip-flop mechanism.