Function of a condensate in regulation pluripotency gene Sox2 transcription

We developed live-cell super-resolution and multi-color 3D-imaging approaches to investigate the function of endogenous condensates in the regulation of super-enhancer controlled gene Sox2. In contrast to enhancer distance, we found that the condensate’s positional dynamics are a better predictor of gene expression. Perturbations of cohesin and local DNA elements do not prevent basal bursting but affect the condensate and its burst. We propose a three-way kissing model whereby the condensate interacts transiently with gene locus and regulatory DNA elements to control gene bursting.