Three-dimensional organization of gene expression in erythroid cells.
The history of globin research is marked by a series of contributions seminal to our understanding of the genome, its function, and its relation to disease. For example, based on studies on hemoglobinopathies, it was understood that gene expression can be under the control of DNA elements that locate away from the genes on the linear chromosome template. Recent technological developments have allowed the demonstration that these regulatory DNA elements communicate with the genes through physical interaction, which loops out the intervening chromatin fiber. Subsequent studies showed that the spatial organization of the beta-globin locus dynamically changes in relation to differences in gene expression. Moreover, it was shown that the beta-globin locus adopts a different position in the nucleus during development and erythroid maturation. Here, we discuss the most recent insight into the three-dimensional organization of gene expression.
de Laat
Wouter
W
Department of Cell Biology and Genetics, Erasmus MC, PO Box 2040, 3000 CA Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
Klous
Petra
P
Kooren
Jurgen
J
Noordermeer
Daan
D
Palstra
Robert-Jan
RJ
Simonis
Marieke
M
Splinter
Erik
E
Grosveld
Frank
F
D000818:Animals; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000235:genetics; D004247:DNA / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D041905:Erythroid Cells / Q000378:metabolism*; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D006801:Humans; D009690:Nucleic Acid Conformation
D004247:DNA