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. Author manuscript; available in PMC: 2023 Sep 19.
Published in final edited form as: Annu Rev Genomics Hum Genet. 2022 May 24;23:29–52. doi: 10.1146/annurev-genom-120821-100535

Figure 4. Functional characteristics of ecDNA.

Figure 4

(a) In contrast with chromosomes (top-panel), ecDNA (bottom-panel) is highly accessible, resulting in over-expression of genes on ecDNA. The expression level remains high even after correcting for copy number. (b) Topology Associated domains (TADs) provide the regulatory elements that control gene regulation, and shield the gene body from outside enhancers (top-panel). The circular structure of ecDNA changes the regulatory circuitry through hijacking of enhancers outside the TAD. (c) ecDNA form hubs and interact with chromosomes, resulting in enhancer activity that regulates genes in other ecDNA, and even on chromosomes.