Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 12, 2026
10:09
Isolation and Cultivation of Neural Progenitors Followed by Chromatin-Immunoprecipitation of Histone 3 Lysine 79 Dimethylation Mark
Published on: January 26, 2018
Tissue-specific histone modification and transcription factor binding in alpha globin gene expression.
Marco De Gobbi1, Eduardo Anguita, Jim Hughes
1Medical Research Council, Molecular Haematology Unit, Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, Oxford University, Oxford, UK.
Blood
|August 24, 2007
Summary
Researchers investigated human alpha globin gene activation during erythropoiesis using microarrays. They found known regulatory elements and distinguished promoters from enhancers, revealing differences between human and mouse globin gene regulation.
Area of Science:
- Genomics
- Epigenetics
- Molecular Biology
Background:
- Erythropoiesis, the process of red blood cell formation, relies on precise regulation of globin gene expression.
- Understanding the cis-acting regulatory elements controlling human alpha globin gene activation is crucial for comprehending erythropoiesis.
Purpose of the Study:
- To comprehensively map transcription factor binding and histone modifications across the human alpha globin locus.
- To identify and characterize cis-acting regulatory elements involved in alpha globin gene activation.
- To compare the regulatory mechanisms of human and mouse alpha globin clusters.
Main Methods:
- Utilized a tiled microarray approach to analyze transcription factor binding and histone modifications (acetylation, methylation).
- Examined a 220-kb region on human chromosome 16 encompassing the alpha globin genes and flanking genes in primary erythroid and nonerythroid cells.
- Conducted comparative analysis with orthologous mouse regions in a coexpression mouse model.
Main Results:
- Identified all known cis-acting regulatory elements within the human alpha globin cluster.
- Confirmed the absence of additional erythroid-specific regulatory elements in the analyzed region.
- Distinguished between promoter and potential enhancer elements based on histone modification patterns.
- Observed significant differences in the regulation of human and mouse alpha globin clusters in vivo.
Conclusions:
- The study provides a comprehensive regulatory map of the human alpha globin locus.
- Histone modifications serve as reliable markers to differentiate between promoter and enhancer elements.
- In vivo differences in regulation suggest distinct evolutionary paths for human and mouse globin gene clusters.
Related Concept Videos
01:30General Transcription Factors
Tissue-specific transcription factors contribute to diverse cellular functions in mammals. For example, the gene for beta globin, a major component of hemoglobin, is present in all cells of the body. However, it is only expressed in red blood cells because the transcription factors that can bind to the promoter sequences of the beta globin gene are only expressed in these cells. Tissue-specific transcription factors also ensure that mutations in these factors may impair only the function of...
02:16Transcription Factors
Tissue-specific transcription factors contribute to diverse cellular functions in mammals. For example, the gene for beta globin, a major component of hemoglobin, is present in all cells of the body. However, it is only expressed in red blood cells because the transcription factors that can bind to the promoter sequences of the beta globin gene are only expressed in these cells. Tissue-specific transcription factors also ensure that mutations in these factors may impair only the function of...
02:16Transcription Factors
Tissue-specific transcription factors contribute to diverse cellular functions in mammals. For example, the gene for beta globin, a major component of hemoglobin, is present in all cells of the body. However, it is only expressed in red blood cells because the transcription factors that can bind to the promoter sequences of the beta globin gene are only expressed in these cells. Tissue-specific transcription factors also ensure that mutations in these factors may impair only the function of...
02:32Histone Modification
The histone proteins have a flexible N-terminal tail extending out from the nucleosome. These histone tails are often subjected to post-translational modifications such as acetylation, methylation, phosphorylation, and ubiquitination. Particular combinations of these modifications form “histone codes” that influence the chromatin folding and tissue-specific gene expression.
Acetylation
The enzyme histone acetyltransferase adds acetyl group to the histones. Another enzyme, histone deacetylase,...
Acetylation
The enzyme histone acetyltransferase adds acetyl group to the histones. Another enzyme, histone deacetylase,...
02:32Histone Modification
The histone proteins have a flexible N-terminal tail extending out from the nucleosome. These histone tails are often subjected to post-translational modifications such as acetylation, methylation, phosphorylation, and ubiquitination. Particular combinations of these modifications form “histone codes” that influence the chromatin folding and tissue-specific gene expression.
Acetylation
The enzyme histone acetyltransferase adds acetyl group to the histones. Another enzyme, histone deacetylase,...
Acetylation
The enzyme histone acetyltransferase adds acetyl group to the histones. Another enzyme, histone deacetylase,...
01:58Cell Specific Gene Expression
Multicellular organisms contain a variety of structurally and functionally distinct cell types, but the DNA in all the cells originated from the same parent cells. The differences in the cells can be attributed to the differential gene expression. Liver cells, whose functions include detoxification of blood, production of bile to metabolize fats, and synthesis of proteins essential for metabolism, must express a specific set of genes to perform their functions. Gene expression also varies with...