title: Locus control region function and heterochromatin-induced position effect variegation.
abstract: Human CD2 locus control region (LCR) sequences are shown here to be essential for establishing an open chromatin configuration. Transgenic mice carrying an hCD2 mini-gene attached only to the 3' CD2 transcriptional enhancer exhibited variegated expression when the transgene integrated in the centromere. In contrast, mice carrying a transgene with additional 3' sequences showed no variegation even when the latter integrated in centromeric positions. This result suggests that LCRs operate by ensuring an open chromatin configuration and that a short region, with no enhancer activity, functions in the establishment, maintenance, or both of an open chromatin domain.
authors.affiliation: Division of Molecular Immunology, National Institute for Medical Research, The Ridgeway, London, UK.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Festenstein
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tolaini
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Corbella
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Mamalaki
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Parrington
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fox
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Miliou
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Jones
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Kioussis
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D018801:CD2 Antigens / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics*; D002503:Centromere / Q000235:genetics; D004742:Enhancer Elements, Genetic; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D006570:Heterochromatin / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D017404:In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence; D051379:Mice; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D012045:Regulatory Sequences, Nucleic Acid; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D019076:Transgenes
chemical_list: D018801:CD2 Antigens; D006570:Heterochromatin