title: Uncovering enhancer functions using the α-globin locus.
abstract: Over the last three decades, studies of the α- and β-globin genes clusters have led to elucidation of the general principles of mammalian gene regulation, such as RNA stability, termination of transcription, and, more importantly, the identification of remote regulatory elements. More recently, detailed studies of α-globin regulation, using both mouse and human loci, allowed the dissection of the sequential order in which transcription factors are recruited to the locus during lineage specification. These studies demonstrated the importance of the remote regulatory elements in the recruitment of RNA polymerase II (PolII) together with their role in the generation of intrachromosomal loops within the locus and the removal of polycomb complexes during differentiation. The multiple roles attributed to remote regulatory elements that have emerged from these studies will be discussed.
authors.affiliation: The Roslin Institute, Developmental Biology Division, University of Edinburgh, Easter Bush, Midlothian, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Douglas
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Vernimmen
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000235:genetics; D004742:Enhancer Elements, Genetic; D044127:Epigenesis, Genetic; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D006801:Humans; D051379:Mice; D012319:RNA Polymerase II / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D055542:alpha-Globins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D055542:alpha-Globins; D012319:RNA Polymerase II