Article

Epigenetics of beta-globin gene regulation.

Laboratory of Cellular and Developmental Biology, NIDDK, NIH, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA.
Mutation Research/Fundamental and Molecular Mechanisms of Mutagenesis (impact factor: 2.85). 09/2008; 647(1-2):68-76. DOI:10.1016/j.mrfmmm.2008.07.014
Source: PubMed

ABSTRACT It is widely recognized that the next great challenge in the post-genomic period is to understand how the genome establishes the cell and tissue specific patterns of gene expression that underlie development. The beta-globin genes are among the most extensively studied tissue specific and developmentally regulated genes. The onset of erythropoiesis in precursor cells and the progressive expression of different members of the beta-globin family during development are accompanied by dramatic epigenetic changes in the locus. In this review, we will consider the relationship between histone and DNA modifications and the transcriptional activity of the beta-globin genes, the dynamic changes in epigenetic modifications observed during erythroid development, and the potential these changes hold as new targets for therapy in human disease.

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Keywords

beta-globin family
 
beta-globin genes
 
developmentally
 
different members
 
dramatic epigenetic changes
 
dynamic changes
 
epigenetic modifications
 
erythroid development
 
extensively
 
gene expression
 
genes
 
histone
 
human disease
 
new targets
 
next great challenge
 
post-genomic period
 
precursor cells
 
transcriptional activity
 
underlie development
 

Christine M Kiefer