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Related Experiment Videos

Looping and interaction between hypersensitive sites in the active beta-globin locus.

Bas Tolhuis1, Robert Jan Palstra, Erik Splinter

  • 1Department of Cell Biology and Genetics, Faculty of Medicine, Erasmus University, Rotterdam, P.O. Box 1738, 3000DR, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.

Molecular Cell
|December 31, 2002
PubMed
Summary

Long-range gene regulation in eukaryotes involves looping of intervening DNA. Specific regulatory elements cluster together in erythroid cells to activate beta-globin genes.

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Area of Science:

  • Molecular Biology
  • Genetics
  • Epigenetics

Background:

  • Eukaryotic gene transcription is regulated over large genomic distances.
  • Understanding the spatial organization of chromatin is crucial for deciphering gene regulation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the in vivo spatial organization of the murine beta-globin locus.
  • To determine how long-range gene regulation is achieved through chromatin structure.

Main Methods:

  • Analysis of the spatial organization of a 200 kb region of the murine beta-globin locus.
  • Comparison of chromatin conformation in expressing erythroid cells versus nonexpressing brain tissue.

Main Results:

  • In brain tissue, the beta-globin cluster adopts a linear conformation.

Related Experiment Videos

  • In erythroid cells, hypersensitive sites of the locus control region (LCR) physically interact with active beta-globin genes.
  • Intervening chromatin containing inactive globin genes loops out, and distant hypersensitive regions participate in these interactions.

    • Conclusions:

    • Long-range gene regulation involves spatial interactions and looping of intervening chromatin.
    • Clustering of regulatory elements is essential for establishing and maintaining active chromatin domains.
    • This spatial clustering plays a key role in regulating eukaryotic transcription.