title: B lymphocyte lineage specification, commitment and epigenetic control of transcription by early B cell factor 1.
abstract: Early B cell factor 1 (EBF1) is a transcription factor that is critical for both B lymphopoiesis and B cell function. EBF1 is a requisite component of the B lymphocyte transcriptional network and is essential for B lineage specification. Recent studies revealed roles for EBF1 in B cell commitment. EBF1 binds its target genes via a DNA-binding domain including a unique 'zinc knuckle', which mediates a novel mode of DNA recognition. Chromatin immunoprecipitation of EBF1 in pro-B cells defined hundreds of new, as well as previously identified, target genes. Notably, expression of the pre-B cell receptor (pre-BCR), BCR and PI3K/Akt/mTOR signaling pathways is controlled by EBF1. In this review, we highlight these current developments and explore how EBF1 functions as a tissue-specific regulator of chromatin structure at B cell-specific genes.
authors: Department of Immunology, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Denver, CO 80206, USA. hagmanj@njhealth.org
authors: James
authors: J
authors: Hagman
authors: Julita
authors: J
authors: Ramírez
authors: Kara
authors: K
authors: Lukin
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism*; D019070:Cell Lineage; D044127:Epigenesis, Genetic; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D006801:Humans; D038041:Lymphopoiesis; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D014157:Transcription Factors