The active spatial organization of the beta-globin locus requires the transcription factor EKLF.
Three-dimensional organization of a gene locus is important for its regulation, as recently demonstrated for the beta-globin locus. When actively expressed, the cis-regulatory elements of the beta-globin locus are in proximity in the nuclear space, forming a compartment termed the Active Chromatin Hub (ACH). However, it is unknown which proteins are involved in ACH formation. Here, we show that EKLF, an erythroid transcription factor required for adult beta-globin gene transcription, is also required for ACH formation. We conclude that transcription factors can play an essential role in the three-dimensional organization of gene loci.
Erasmus University Medical Center, Department of Cell Biology, The Netherlands.
Roy
R
Drissen
Robert-Jan
RJ
Palstra
Nynke
N
Gillemans
Erik
E
Splinter
Frank
F
Grosveld
Sjaak
S
Philipsen
Wouter
W
de Laat
D000818:Animals; D002843:Chromatin / Q000235:genetics*; D003432:Cross-Linking Reagents; D004247:DNA / Q000378:metabolism; D017931:DNA Primers; D018076:DNA, Complementary / Q000235:genetics; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D005557:Formaldehyde; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D005914:Globins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D051741:Kruppel-Like Transcription Factors; D008099:Liver / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D008817:Mice, Mutant Strains; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods; D015183:Restriction Mapping; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism
D002843:Chromatin; D003432:Cross-Linking Reagents; D017931:DNA Primers; D018076:DNA, Complementary; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D051741:Kruppel-Like Transcription Factors; D014157:Transcription Factors; C080774:erythroid Kruppel-like factor; D005557:Formaldehyde; D005914:Globins; D004247:DNA