Open AccessSynergistic and Additive Properties of the Beta-Globin Locus Control Region (LCR) Revealed by 5′HS3 Deletion Mutations: Implication for LCR Chromatin Architecture
Author(s) -
Xiangdong Fang,
Jin Sun,
Xiang Peng,
Man Yu,
Patrick A. Navas,
Kenneth R. Peterson,
George Stamatoyannopoulos,
Qiliang Li
Publication year - 2005
Publication title -
molecular and cellular biology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.14
H-Index - 327
eISSN - 1067-8824
pISSN - 0270-7306
DOI - 10.1128/mcb.25.16.7033-7041.2005
Subject(s) - locus control region , biology , chromatin , hypersensitive site , locus (genetics) , microbiology and biotechnology , deoxyribonuclease i , dnase i hypersensitive site , genetics , histone , chia pet , gene , globin , promoter , gene expression , chromatin remodeling , base sequence
Deletion of the 234-bp core element of the DNase I hypersensitive site 3 (5'HS3) of the locus control region (LCR) in the context of a human beta-globin locus yeast artificial chromosome (beta-YAC) results in profound effects on globin gene expression in transgenic mice. In contrast, deletion of a 2.3-kb 5'HS3 region, which includes the 234-bp core sequence, has a much milder phenotype. Here we report the effects of these deletions on chromatin structure in the beta-globin locus of adult erythroblasts. The 234-bp 5'HS3 deletion abolished histone acetylation throughout the beta-globin locus; recruitment of RNA polymerase II (pol II) to the LCR and beta-globin gene promoter was reduced to a basal level; and formation of all the 5' DNase I hypersensitive sites of the LCR was disrupted. The 2.3-kb 5'HS3 deletion mildly reduced the level of histone acetylation but did not change the profile across the whole locus; the 5' DNase I hypersensitive sites of the LCR were formed, but to a lesser extent; and recruitment of pol II was reduced, but only marginally. These data support the hypothesis that the LCR forms a specific chromatin structure and acts as a single entity. Based on these results we elaborate on a model of LCR chromatin architecture which accommodates the distinct phenotypes of the 5'HS3 and HS3 core deletions.