Chromatin structure and transcriptional regulation of the beta-globin locus.
Chromatin structure plays a critical role in eukaryotic gene transcriptional regulation. The beta-globin locus provides an ideal system within which to study the interplay between chromatin structure and transcriptional regulation. The process of beta-globin locus activation is remarkably intricate and involves at least two distinct events: chromatin opening and gene activation. Great progress has been made in recent years in understanding how locus control regions confer high-level expression to linked genes. Current interest focuses on some special events, including formation of locus control region hypersensitivity sites, ATP-dependent chromatin remodeling, localized H3 hyperacetylation, and intergenic transcription, which link chromatin and beta-globin locus regulation. These events, and their possible molecular bases, are summarized together with speculations concerning their connections.
National Laboratory of Medical Molecular Biology, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100005, P.R. China.
Xiang Hui
XH
Fu
De-Pei
DP
Liu
Chih-Chuan
CC
Liang
D000107:Acetylation; D000818:Animals; D002843:Chromatin / Q000737:chemistry / Q000502:physiology*; D021901:DNA, Intergenic / Q000235:genetics; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D005914:Globins / Q000235:genetics*; D006657:Histones / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D019901:Locus Control Region / Q000235:genetics*; D014158:Transcription, Genetic / Q000235:genetics*; D015533:Transcriptional Activation
D002843:Chromatin; D021901:DNA, Intergenic; D006657:Histones; D005914:Globins