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Joining the loops: β‐Globin gene regulation
Author(s) -
Noordermeer Daan,
de Laat Wouter
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
iubmb life
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.132
H-Index - 113
eISSN - 1521-6551
pISSN - 1521-6543
DOI - 10.1002/iub.129
Subject(s) - locus control region , locus (genetics) , chromatin , gene , biology , genetics , globin , regulation of gene expression , regulatory sequence , gene expression , chromosome conformation capture , promoter , enhancer
The mammalian β‐globin locus is a multigene locus containing several globin genes and a number of regulatory elements. During development, the expression of the genes changes in a process called “switching.” The most important regulatory element in the locus is the locus control region (LCR) upstream of the globin genes that is essential for high‐level expression of these genes. The discovery of the LCR initially raised the question how this element could exert its effect on the downstream globin genes. The question was solved by the finding that the LCR and activate globin genes are in physical contact, forming a chromatin structure named the active chromatin hub (ACH). Here we discuss the significance of ACH formation, provide an overview of the proteins implicated in chromatin looping at the β‐globin locus, and evaluate the relationship between nuclear organization and β‐globin gene expression. © 2008 IUBMB IUBMB Life, 60(12): 824–833, 2008