Beyond its originally discovered role tethering replicated sister chromatids, cohesin has emerged as a master regulator of gene expression. Recent advances in chromatin topology resolution and single-cell studies have revealed that cohesin has a pivotal role regulating highly dynamic chromatin interactions linked to transcription control. The dynamic association of cohesin with chromatin and its capacity to perform loop extrusion contribute to the heterogeneity of chromatin contacts. Additionally, different cohesin subcomplexes, with specific properties and regulation, control gene expression across the cell cycle and during developmental cell commitment. Here, we discuss the most recent literature in the field to highlight the role of cohesin in gene expression regulation during transcriptional shifts and its relationship with human diseases.

除了最初发现的束缚复制的姐妹染色单体的作用外，黏连蛋白已成为基因表达的主要调节剂。染色质拓扑分辨率和单细胞研究的最新进展表明，黏连蛋白在调节与转录控制相关的高度动态染色质相互作用方面具有关键作用。粘连蛋白与染色质的动态关联及其进行环挤压的能力有助于染色质接触的异质性。此外，具有特定特性和调节的不同黏连蛋白亚复合物控制整个细胞周期和发育细胞定型期间的基因表达。在这里，我们讨论了该领域的最新文献，以强调在转录转变过程中黏连蛋白在基因表达调控中的作用及其与人类疾病的关系。