title: Locus control regions.
abstract: Locus control regions (LCRs) are operationally defined by their ability to enhance the expression of linked genes to physiological levels in a tissue-specific and copy number-dependent manner at ectopic chromatin sites. Although their composition and locations relative to their cognate genes are different, LCRs have been described in a broad spectrum of mammalian gene systems, suggesting that they play an important role in the control of eukaryotic gene expression. The discovery of the LCR in the beta-globin locus and the characterization of LCRs in other loci reinforces the concept that developmental and cell lineage-specific regulation of gene expression relies not on gene-proximal elements such as promoters, enhancers, and silencers exclusively, but also on long-range interactions of various cis regulatory elements and dynamic chromatin alterations.
authors.affiliation: Division of Medical Genetics, Department of Genome Sciences, University of Washington, 1705 NE Pacific Street, Seattle, WA 98195, USA.
authors.forename: Qiliang
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Kenneth R
authors.initials: KR
authors.lastname: Peterson
authors.forename: Xiangdong
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Fang
authors.forename: George
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Stamatoyannopoulos
mesh_terms: D000107:Acetylation; D000818:Animals; D019070:Cell Lineage; D002645:Chickens / Q000235:genetics; D002843:Chromatin / Q000235:genetics / Q000648:ultrastructure; D004261:DNA Replication; D004742:Enhancer Elements, Genetic; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000235:genetics; D005914:Globins / Q000235:genetics; D006570:Heterochromatin / Q000235:genetics / Q000648:ultrastructure; D006657:Histones / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D019901:Locus Control Region; D051379:Mice; D051381:Rats; D014158:Transcription, Genetic; D014714:Vertebrates / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D002843:Chromatin; D006570:Heterochromatin; D006657:Histones; D005914:Globins