Lineage-specific transcription factors in multipotent hematopoietic progenitors: a little bit goes a long way.
Basal expression of lineage-specific transcription factors (TFs) in multipotent hematopoietic progenitor cells (HPCs) plays a pivotal role in normal hematopoiesis. Indeed, the interplay between lineage-specific TFs and chromatin modifying or remodeling complexes allows chromatin modifications at specific hematopoietic loci and promotes transcriptionally prone conformations. During hematopoiesis, the expression of various lineage-specific genes can be preceded by their potentiation i.e., by chromatin activation, in progenitor cells. Gene potentiation appears to counterbalance epigenetic silencing of lineage-specific genes in early progenitors, while maintaining an accessible chromatin conformation in the lineage pathway selected. Herein, we discuss the impact of lineage-specific TFs on gene potentiation and priming in normal hematopoiesis, and emphasize the complementary role of locus control region (LCR) or LCR-like structures and promoter regions in gene-specific potentiation events.
Bottardi
Stefania
S
Maisonneuve-Rosemont Hospital Research Center, Maisonneuve-Rosemont Hospital and Faculty of Medicine, University of Montreal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
Ghiam
Alireza Fotouhi
AF
Bergeron
François
F
Milot
Eric
E
D000818:Animals; D019070:Cell Lineage; D005914:Globins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D006410:Hematopoiesis / Q000502:physiology; D006412:Hematopoietic Stem Cells / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D019901:Locus Control Region; D008954:Models, Biological; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000378:metabolism*
D014157:Transcription Factors; D005914:Globins