Human β-globin locus control region hypersensitive site specificity for globin gene activation during erythropoiesis

2007 ◽  
Vol 38 (2) ◽  
pp. 170
Author(s):  
Kenneth R. Peterson ◽  
Halyna Fedosyuk ◽  
Susanna Harju
Blood ◽  
2000 ◽  
Vol 96 (1) ◽  
pp. 334-339 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. Camilla Forsberg ◽  
Karen M. Downs ◽  
Emery H. Bresnick

The human β-globin locus control region (LCR) confers high-level, tissue-specific expression to the β-globin genes. Tandem Maf recognition elements (MAREs) within the hypersensitive site 2 (HS2) subregion of the LCR are important for the strong enhancer activity of the LCR. Multiple proteins are capable of interacting with these sites in vitro, including the erythroid cell- and megakaryocyte-specific transcription factor, NF-E2. The importance of NF-E2 for β-globin gene expression is evident in murine erythroleukemia cells lacking the p45 subunit of NF-E2. These CB3 cells have a severe defect in - and β-globin gene transcription, which can be restored by expression of NF-E2. However, mice nullizygous for p45 express nearly normal levels of β-globin. Thus, either a redundant factor(s) exists in mice that can functionally replace NF-E2, or NF-E2 does not function through the LCR to regulate β-globin gene expression. To address this issue, we asked whether NF-E2 binds directly to the tandem MAREs of HS2 in intact cells. Using a chromatin immunoprecipitation assay, we provide evidence for NF-E2 binding directly and specifically to HS2 in living erythroleukemia cells and in mouse fetal liver. The specific immunoisolation of HS2 sequences was dependent on the presence of p45 and on intact MAREs within HS2. These results support a direct role for NF-E2 in the regulation of β-globin gene expression through activation of the LCR.


Blood ◽  
1994 ◽  
Vol 84 (5) ◽  
pp. 1399-1401 ◽  
Author(s):  
Q Li ◽  
G Stamatoyannopoulos

Abstract The human beta locus control region (LCR) consists of five DNAse I hypersensitive sites (HS), four of which are erythroid specific and one, the further upstream located 5′HS5, is constitutive. To characterize the function of 5′HS5 we analyzed globin gene expression of various constructs containing HS3 as an enhancer, HS5, and the beta gene as a reporter. Expression was analyzed in stably transfected MEL cells. We found that the enhancing effect of hypersensitive site 3 is blocked when the HS5 is interposed between HS3 and the beta globin gene. These data suggest that the human 5′HS5 has the properties of a chromatin insulator.


1996 ◽  
Vol 16 (11) ◽  
pp. 6055-6064 ◽  
Author(s):  
Q H Gong ◽  
J C McDowell ◽  
A Dean

Much of our understanding of the process by which enhancers activate transcription has been gained from transient-transfection studies in which the DNA is not assembled with histones and other chromatin proteins as it is in the cell nucleus. To study the activation of a mammalian gene in a natural chromatin context in vivo, we constructed a minichromosome containing the human epsilon-globin gene and portions of the beta-globin locus control region (LCR). The minichromosomes replicate and are maintained at stable copy number in human erythroid cells. Expression of the minichromosomal epsilon-globin gene requires the presence of beta-globin LCR elements in cis, as is the case for the chromosomal gene. We determined the chromatin structure of the epsilon-globin gene in both the active and inactive states. The transcriptionally inactive locus is covered by an array of positioned nucleosomes extending over 1,400 bp. In minichromosomes with a (mu)LCR or DNase I-hypersensitive site 2 (HS2) which actively transcribe the epsilon-globin gene, the nucleosome at the promoter is altered or disrupted while positioning of nucleosomes in the rest of the locus is retained. All or virtually all minichromosomes are simultaneously hypersensitive to DNase I both at the promoter and at HS2. Transcriptional activation and promoter remodeling, as well as formation of the HS2 structure itself, depended on the presence of the NF-E2 binding motif in HS2. The nucleosome at the promoter which is altered upon activation is positioned over the transcriptional elements of the epsilon-globin gene, i.e., the TATA, CCAAT, and CACCC elements, and the GATA-1 site at -165. The simple availability of erythroid transcription factors that recognize these motifs is insufficient to allow expression. As in the chromosomal globin locus, regulation also occurs at the level of chromatin structure. These observations are consistent with the idea that one role of the beta-globin LCR is to maintain promoters free of nucleosomes. The restricted structural change observed upon transcriptional activation may indicate that the LCR need only make a specific contact with the proximal gene promoter to activate transcription.


Blood ◽  
2000 ◽  
Vol 96 (1) ◽  
pp. 334-339 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. Camilla Forsberg ◽  
Karen M. Downs ◽  
Emery H. Bresnick

Abstract The human β-globin locus control region (LCR) confers high-level, tissue-specific expression to the β-globin genes. Tandem Maf recognition elements (MAREs) within the hypersensitive site 2 (HS2) subregion of the LCR are important for the strong enhancer activity of the LCR. Multiple proteins are capable of interacting with these sites in vitro, including the erythroid cell- and megakaryocyte-specific transcription factor, NF-E2. The importance of NF-E2 for β-globin gene expression is evident in murine erythroleukemia cells lacking the p45 subunit of NF-E2. These CB3 cells have a severe defect in - and β-globin gene transcription, which can be restored by expression of NF-E2. However, mice nullizygous for p45 express nearly normal levels of β-globin. Thus, either a redundant factor(s) exists in mice that can functionally replace NF-E2, or NF-E2 does not function through the LCR to regulate β-globin gene expression. To address this issue, we asked whether NF-E2 binds directly to the tandem MAREs of HS2 in intact cells. Using a chromatin immunoprecipitation assay, we provide evidence for NF-E2 binding directly and specifically to HS2 in living erythroleukemia cells and in mouse fetal liver. The specific immunoisolation of HS2 sequences was dependent on the presence of p45 and on intact MAREs within HS2. These results support a direct role for NF-E2 in the regulation of β-globin gene expression through activation of the LCR.


2002 ◽  
Vol 80 (6) ◽  
pp. 765-770
Author(s):  
Xiang Lv ◽  
Dong-dong Xu ◽  
De-pei Liu ◽  
Lei Li ◽  
De-long Hao ◽  
...  

Expression regulation of the β-globin gene cluster is a result of synergistic interactions between cis-elements and trans-acting factors. Previous studies usually concentrated on the core sequence of each hypersensitive site in the locus control region of the β-globin gene cluster. But more and more evidence illustrates that the flanking regions are indispensable also. Using electrophoretic mobility shift assay and solid-phase DNase I footprinting methods, we identified a small nuclear protein from K562 cells that binds specifically to the first AT-rich region flanking the hypersensitive site 2 core sequence of the human β-globin gene locus control region. N-terminal sequencing of the enriched protein proved that it is a member of the high-mobility group protein 2 family. This indicates that the AT-rich region in human hypersensitive site 2 may take part in the regulation of the β-globin gene cluster by facilitating DNA bending, which is a prerequisite for the looping mechanism in this region.Key words: β-globin gene, locus control region, hypersensitive site 2, AT-rich region, high-mobility group protein 2.


Blood ◽  
1994 ◽  
Vol 84 (5) ◽  
pp. 1399-1401 ◽  
Author(s):  
Q Li ◽  
G Stamatoyannopoulos

The human beta locus control region (LCR) consists of five DNAse I hypersensitive sites (HS), four of which are erythroid specific and one, the further upstream located 5′HS5, is constitutive. To characterize the function of 5′HS5 we analyzed globin gene expression of various constructs containing HS3 as an enhancer, HS5, and the beta gene as a reporter. Expression was analyzed in stably transfected MEL cells. We found that the enhancing effect of hypersensitive site 3 is blocked when the HS5 is interposed between HS3 and the beta globin gene. These data suggest that the human 5′HS5 has the properties of a chromatin insulator.


1992 ◽  
Vol 12 (5) ◽  
pp. 2057-2066 ◽  
Author(s):  
B J Morley ◽  
C A Abbott ◽  
J A Sharpe ◽  
J Lida ◽  
P S Chan-Thomas ◽  
...  

The beta-globin gene complex is regulated by an upstream locus control region (LCR) which is responsible for high-level, position-independent, erythroid-cell-specific expression of the genes in the cluster. Its role in the developmental regulation of beta-like globin gene transcription remains to be established. We have examined the effect of a single LCR element, hypersensitive site 2 (HS2), on the developmental regulation of the human fetal gamma and adult beta genes in transgenic mice. In mice bearing HS2A gamma beta and HS2G gamma A gamma-117 delta beta human globin gene constructs, switching from gamma- to beta-gene expression begins at about day 13.5 of gestation and is largely completed shortly after birth. The larger construct also demonstrates a switch in G gamma- to A gamma-gene expression during the gamma-to-beta switch similar to that observed during normal human development. We conclude that HS2 alone is sufficient for developmental regulation of the human beta-globin genes.


2012 ◽  
Vol 40 (22) ◽  
pp. 11256-11269 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kenneth R. Peterson ◽  
Halyna Fedosyuk ◽  
Susanna Harju-Baker

1992 ◽  
Vol 12 (5) ◽  
pp. 2057-2066
Author(s):  
B J Morley ◽  
C A Abbott ◽  
J A Sharpe ◽  
J Lida ◽  
P S Chan-Thomas ◽  
...  

The beta-globin gene complex is regulated by an upstream locus control region (LCR) which is responsible for high-level, position-independent, erythroid-cell-specific expression of the genes in the cluster. Its role in the developmental regulation of beta-like globin gene transcription remains to be established. We have examined the effect of a single LCR element, hypersensitive site 2 (HS2), on the developmental regulation of the human fetal gamma and adult beta genes in transgenic mice. In mice bearing HS2A gamma beta and HS2G gamma A gamma-117 delta beta human globin gene constructs, switching from gamma- to beta-gene expression begins at about day 13.5 of gestation and is largely completed shortly after birth. The larger construct also demonstrates a switch in G gamma- to A gamma-gene expression during the gamma-to-beta switch similar to that observed during normal human development. We conclude that HS2 alone is sufficient for developmental regulation of the human beta-globin genes.


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