Enhancer Elements

Enhancer elements are DNA sequences that regulate gene expression. They act as switches to turn different genes on and off at the right times and places. Enhancer elements may be located relatively far away from the gene they are controlling and can interact with other enhancer elements. They are important components of the regulatory toolkit of gene expression, allowing for a fine-tuned, sophisticated response to different environmental signals. Enhancer elements are widely studied in model organisms such as fruit flies and mice, and their roles in development and disease are increasingly being understood. Enhancer elements have the potential to be useful for human therapeutics — for example, by manipulating the activity of enhancer elements, it may be possible to develop treatments for developmental disorders and diseases like cancer.