title: Globin genes transcriptional switching, chromatin structure and linked lessons to epigenetics in cancer: a comparative overview.
abstract: At the present time research situates differential regulation of gene expression in an increasingly complex scenario based on interplay between genetic and epigenetic information networks, which need to be highly coordinated. Here we describe in a comparative way relevant concepts and models derived from studies on the chicken alpha- and beta-globin group of genes. We discuss models for globin switching and mechanisms for coordinated transcriptional activation. A comparative overview of globin genes chromatin structure, based on their genomic domain organization and epigenetic components is presented. We argue that the results of those studies and their integrative interpretation may contribute to our understanding of epigenetic abnormalities, from beta-thalassemias to human cancer. Finally we discuss the interdependency of genetic-epigenetic components and the need of their mutual consideration in order to visualize the regulation of gene expression in a more natural context and consequently better understand cell differentiation, development and cancer.
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Fisiología Celular, Departamento de Genética Molecular, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Apartado Postal 70-242, México, D.F., 04510, Mexico.
authors.forename: Georgina
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Guerrero
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Fisiología Celular, Departamento de Genética Molecular, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Apartado Postal 70-242, México, D.F., 04510, Mexico.
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Delgado-Olguín
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Fisiología Celular, Departamento de Genética Molecular, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Apartado Postal 70-242, México, D.F., 04510, Mexico.
authors.forename: Martín
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Escamilla-Del-Arenal
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Fisiología Celular, Departamento de Genética Molecular, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Apartado Postal 70-242, México, D.F., 04510, Mexico.
authors.forename: Mayra
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Furlan-Magaril
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Fisiología Celular, Departamento de Genética Molecular, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Apartado Postal 70-242, México, D.F., 04510, Mexico.
authors.forename: Eria
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Rebollar
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Fisiología Celular, Departamento de Genética Molecular, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Apartado Postal 70-242, México, D.F., 04510, Mexico.
authors.forename: Inti A
authors.initials: IA
authors.lastname: De La Rosa-Velázquez
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Fisiología Celular, Departamento de Genética Molecular, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Apartado Postal 70-242, México, D.F., 04510, Mexico.
authors.forename: Ernesto
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Soto-Reyes
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Fisiología Celular, Departamento de Genética Molecular, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Apartado Postal 70-242, México, D.F., 04510, Mexico.
authors.forename: Héctor
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Rincón-Arano
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Fisiología Celular, Departamento de Genética Molecular, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Apartado Postal 70-242, México, D.F., 04510, Mexico.
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Valdes-Quezada
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Fisiología Celular, Departamento de Genética Molecular, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Apartado Postal 70-242, México, D.F., 04510, Mexico.
authors.forename: Viviana
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Valadez-Graham
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Fisiología Celular, Departamento de Genética Molecular, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Apartado Postal 70-242, México, D.F., 04510, Mexico. Electronic address: frecilla@ifc.unam.mx.
authors.forename: Félix
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Recillas-Targa
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002843:Chromatin / Q000737:chemistry*; D044127:Epigenesis, Genetic; D005914:Globins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics*; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic / Q000235:genetics; D014158:Transcription, Genetic
chemical_list: D002843:Chromatin; D005914:Globins