Inter-MAR association contributes to transcriptionally active looping events in human beta-globin gene cluster.

Autor: Li Wang, Li-Jun Di, Xiang Lv, Wei Zheng, Zheng Xue, Zhi-Chen Guo, De-Pei Liu, Chi-Chuan Liang
Jazyk: angličtina
Rok vydání: 2009
Předmět:
Zdroj: PLoS ONE, Vol 4, Iss 2, p e4629 (2009)
Druh dokumentu: article
ISSN: 1932-6203
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0004629
Popis: Matrix attachment regions (MARs) are important in chromatin organization and gene regulation. Although it is known that there are a number of MAR elements in the beta-globin gene cluster, it is unclear that how these MAR elements are involved in regulating beta-globin genes expression. Here, we report the identification of a new MAR element at the LCR (locus control region) of human beta-globin gene cluster and the detection of the inter-MAR association within the beta-globin gene cluster. Also, we demonstrate that SATB1, a protein factor that has been implicated in the formation of network like higher order chromatin structures at some gene loci, takes part in beta-globin specific inter-MAR association through binding the specific MARs. Knocking down of SATB1 obviously reduces the binding of SATB1 to the MARs and diminishes the frequency of the inter-MAR association. As a result, the ACH establishment and the alpha-like globin genes and beta-like globin genes expressions are affected either. In summary, our results suggest that SATB1 is a regulatory factor of hemoglobin genes, especially the early differentiation genes at least through affecting the higher order chromatin structure.
Databáze: Directory of Open Access Journals