ELSEVIER
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`Gene 205 (1997) 73-94
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`GENE
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`AN INTERNATIONAL. JOURNAL ON
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`GENES AND GENOMES
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`Locus control regions of mammalian /3-globin gene clusters: combining
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`phylogenetic analyses and experimental results to gain functional insights
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`Review
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`a,b,*, Jerry L. Slightom C, Deborah L. Gumucio d, Morris Goodman e,
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`Ross Hardison
`b,r
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`Nikola Stojanovic r, Webb Miller
`a Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA
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`b Center for Gene Regulation, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA
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`c Molecular Biology Unit 7242, Pharmacia and Upjohn, Inc., Kalamazoo, MI 49007, USA
`d Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-0616, USA
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`e Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Wayne State School of Medicine, Detroit, MI 48201, USA
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`r Department of Computer Science and Engineering, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA
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`Accepted 22 July 1997
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`Abstract
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`Locus control regions (LCRs) are cis-acting DNA segments needed for activation of an entire locus or gene cluster. They are
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`operationally defined as DNA sequences needed to achieve a high level of gene expression regardless of the position of integration
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`in transgenic mice or stably transfected cells. This review brings together the large amount of DNA sequence data from the /3-
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`globin LCR with the vast amount of functional data obtained through the use of biochemical, cellular and transgenic experimental
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`systems. Alignment of orthologous LCR sequences from five mammalian species locates numerous conserved regions, including
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`previously identified cis-acting elements within the cores of nuclease hypersensitive sites (HSs) as well as conserved regions located
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`between the HS cores. The distribution of these conserved sequences, combined with the effects of LCR fragments utilized in
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`expression studies, shows that important sites are more widely distributed in the LCR than previously anticipated, especially in
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`and around HS2 and HS3. We propose that the HS cores plus HS flanking DNAs comprise a 'unit' to which proteins bind and
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`form an optimally functional structure. Multiple HS units (at least three: HS2, HS3 and HS4 cores plus flanking DNAs) together
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`establish a chromatin structure that allows the proper developmental regulation of genes within the cluster. © 1997 Elsevier
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`Science B.V.
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`Keywords: Hemoglobin; Sequence conservation; Enhancement; Chromatin; Domain opening; DNA-binding proteins
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`1.Expression patterns of mammalian hemoglobin gene
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`clusters
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`clusters in birds and mammals. In humans, the /3-like
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`globin genes (including pseudogenes denoted by the
`in the array 5'-E-Gy-Ay-if;r,-f>-/3-3'
`prefix if;) are clustered
`The genes that encode the polypeptides of the a2/32
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`that covers about 75 kb on chromosome l lp l5.4, and
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`tetramer of hemoglobin are encoded in two separate
`5'-(2-if;(l ­
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`the a-like globin genes are in a 4O-kb cluster,
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`if;a2-if;al-a2-al-0-3', very close to the telomere o f the
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`short arm of chromosome 16. Expression of the a-and
`*Corresponding author. Present address: Department of Biochemistry
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`/3-like globin genes is limited to erythroid cells and is
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`and Molecular Biology, The Pennsylvania State University, 206
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`balanced so that equal amounts of the two polypeptides
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`Althouse Laboratory, University Park, PA 16802, USA. Tel.: + I 814
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`are available to assemble the hemoglobin heterotet­
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`8630113 ; Fax: + 1 814 8637024; e-mail: rch8@psu.edu
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`ramer. Expression of genes within the clusters is develop­
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`Abbreviations: LCR, locus control region; HS, hypersensitive site;
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`mentally controlled, so that different forms of
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`HIC, highest information content; DPF, differential phylogenetic foot­
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`hemoglobin are produced in embryonic, fetal and adult
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`print; CACBPs, proteins that bind to the CACC motif; MAR, matrix
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`life (reviewed in Stamatoyannopoulos and Nienhuis,
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`attachment region; bHLH, basic helix-loop-helix; MEL, murine
`erythroleukemia.
`1994).
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`0378-1119/97/$17.00 © 1997 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.
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`Pl/ S0378-l l 19(97)00474-5
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`R.Hardison et al. / Gene 205 ( 1997) 73-94
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`This process of hemoglobin switching is an excellent
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`anthropoid primates, its expression continues and predo­
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`model system for increasing our understanding of the
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`minates in fetal red cells. The appearance of this new
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`molecular mechanisms of differential gene expression
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`pattern of fetal expression of the y-globin genes coincides
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`during development. These developmental switches also
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`roughly with the duplication of the genes in primate
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`offer new approaches to therapy for inherited anemias.
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`evolution, which leads to the hypothesis that the duplica­
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`For example, continued expression of the normally fetal
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`tion allowed the changes that caused the fetal recruit­
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`HbF (o:2y2) in adults will reduce the severity of symptoms
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`ment (Hayasaka et al., 1993). The /J-globin gene is
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`of patients producing an abnormal P-globin in sickle
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`expressed after birth in all mammals, but in galago,
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`cell disease and possibly also in patients lacking sufficient
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`mouse and rabbit, its expression initiates and predomi­
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`P-globin (P-thalassemia). An understanding of the
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`nates in the fetal liver (arguing that fetal expression of
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`molecular basis of globin gene switching will facilitate
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`the p-globin gene is the ancestral state). The recruitment
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`development of new therapeutic strategies (pharmaco­
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`of y-globin genes for fetal expression in anthropoid
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`logical and/or DNA transfer) that continue y-globin
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`primates is accompanied by a corresponding delay in
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`gene expression in adults.
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`expression of the p-globin gene.
`In addition to biochemical and genetic approaches to
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`Comparisons of DNA sequences among mammalian
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`studying regulation of globin genes, phylogenetic
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`p-globin gene clusters can reveal candidates for
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`approaches are also highly informative. The detailed
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`sequences involved in shared regulatory functions; these
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`study of globin gene clusters in many mammalian species will be detected as conserved sequence blocks, or phylo­
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`genetic footprints, found in all mammals (Gumucio
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`has provided a rich resource of information from which
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`to glean further insight into not only the evolution of et al., 1992; Hardison et al., 1993). Notable similarities
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`the gene clusters but also their regulation. The p-globin
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`are found in alignments of the proximal 5' flanking
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`regions of the orthologous P-like globin genes, consistent
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`gene clusters have been extensively studied in human,
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`with their roles as promoters and other regulators of
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`the prosimian galago, the lagomorph rabbit, the artio­
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`expression. In addition, striking and extensive sequence
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`dactyls goat and cow, and the rodent mouse. Maps of
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`matches are found at the far 5' end of the gene clusters,
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`these gene clusters are shown in Fig. I, and aspects of
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`in the region that we now recognize as the locus control
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`their evolution and regulation have been reviewed
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`region (LCR), which is the dominant, distal control
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`(Collins and Weissman, 1984; Goodman et al., 1987;
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`sequence for these gene clusters. Sequence comparisons
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`Hardison and Miller, 1993). The E:-globin gene is at the
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`can be used also to identify candidates for regulatory
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`5' end of all the mammalian globin gene clusters and is
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`elements that lead to differences in expression patterns.
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`expressed only in embryonic red cells in all cases. In
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`In this case, one searches for sequences conserved in the
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`most eutherian mammals, expression of the y-globin
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`set of mammals that show a particular phenotype but
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`gene is also limited to embryonic red cells, but in
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`Human 13
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`duplication of y
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`fetal recruitment '::iii.
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`Galago 13 �
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`L - -- - Rabbit l3 �
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`Ancestral eutherian mammal
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`140 kb
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`E FF
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`E E F,A
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`Goatl3
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`Mouse 13
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`E E J E
`y bh0 bh1bh2 bh3 b1 b2
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`E E
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`F,A F,A
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`Fig. I. Evolution of /3-globin gene clusters in eutherian mammals. The inferred ancestral gene cluster and the branching pathways to contemporary
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`gene clusters are shown. The time of expression during development is indicated beneath the box representing each gene; E, embryonic; F, fetal;
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`A, adult. The boxes for orthologous genes have the same shading.
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`R Hardison et al./ Gene 205 ( 1997) 73-94
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`2.2. Position-independent expression and enhancement
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`cluster
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`1986). Thus, the LCR marks an open chromatin domain
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`which differ in the species with a different pattern of
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`for the /3-like globin gene cluster in erythroid cells from
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`expression. For instance, such differential phylogenetic
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`all developmental stages, and functional assays implicate
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`footprints (Gumucio et al., 1994) led to the discovery
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`the LCR in generating this open domain, as described
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`of a sequence implicated in fetal-specific expression of
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`the y-globin genes in higher primates (Jane et al., 1992)
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`and a sequence that binds several proteins implicated in
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`fetal silencing of the y-globin gene (Gumucio et al.,
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`1994). In this review, we summarize the results of
`As illustrated in Fig. 2, the /3-globin LCR will confer
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`sequence comparisons for both types of regulatory ele­
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`high-level, position-independent expression on globin
`ment in the LCR.
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`gene constructs in transgenic mice (reviewed in Townes
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`and Behringer, 1990; Grosveld et al., 1993). In the
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`absence of the LCR, the human /3-or y-globin gene is
`2.General features of mammalian �-globin LCRs
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`expressed in only about half of the lines of transgenic
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`mice carrying the integrated gene, and expression levels
`2.1. DNase hypersensitive sites 5' to the f3-globin gene
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`are low relative to those of the endogenous mouse globin
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`genes. The lack of expression in many lines of transgenic
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`mice is presumed to result from negative position effects
`The /3-globin LCR was initially discovered as a set of
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`generated by adjacent sequences at the site of integ­
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`dnase hypersensitive sites located 5' to the £-globin gene
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`ration, which prevent expression of the transgene in
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`(Tuan et al., 1985; Forrester et al., 1986, 1987). At least
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`erythroid cells. However, when a large DNA fragment
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`5 DNase HSs, called HS1-HS5 (Fig. 2), have been
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`containing the full LCR is linked to the /3-globin gene,
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`characterized within the region that provided the original
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`all resulting transgenic mouse lines express the gene,
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`gain-of-function effects described below (Grosveld et al.,
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`and at a level comparable to that of the endogenous
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`1987), and we will refer to this region with all five HSs
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`globin genes (Grosveld et al., 1987). Hence, the negative
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`as the 'full LCR.' The presence of DNase HSs is
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`position effects are no longer observed, indicating that
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`indicative of an altered chromatin structure associated
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`either a strong domain-opening activity (that overrides
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`with important cis-regulatory regions (Gross and
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`the negative effects of adjacent sequences), or an insula­
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`Garrard, 1988). Some of these sites, especially HS3,
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`tor that blocks the effects of adjacent sequences, or
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`appear preferentially in erythroid nuclei (Dhar et al.,
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`both, are present in the LCR. The high level of expres­
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`1990), but in contrast to the DNase hypersensitive sites
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`sion of the transgene indicates the presence of enhancers
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`at promoters, all are developmentally stable, i.e., present
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`in the LCR as well. Both enhancers and LCRs increase
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`in embryonic, fetal and adult red cells (Forrester et al.,
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`0
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`20
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`40
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`60
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`DNase HSs
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`80 kb
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`1Expr!:!SS!:!d in Develgpmental
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`!;!l(th[QiQ
`f.QfilllQD.
`� Chromatin
`red cells
`RegulatiQn
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`E
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`E
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`Yes
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`No Open
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`No
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`Yes? Closed
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`GyAy 'lfll 6 13
`Human
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`Yes
`ttttt
`13-globin�:�9.�:l
`I II □� I
`gene cluster
`GyAy 'lfll 6 13
`Hispanic
`No
`(y6l3) thalassemia
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`In transgenic mice:
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`Sometimes Yes Yes Sometimes
`open
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`Yes PrecociousNo Open
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`GyAy 'lfll 6 13
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`No Open
`Yes
`Yes
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`I II 0--{J I
`�=�=l
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`Fig. 2. Summary of the major effects of the P-globin locus control region.
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`R Hardison et al. / Gene 205 ( 1997) 73-94
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`2.5. Developmental regulation
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`2.3. Copy-number dependent expression
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`the probability that a locus will be in a transcriptionally
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`semia deletion, which removes HS2 through HS5
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`competent state without affecting the transcription rate
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`(Fig. 2), not only leaves the locus in a closed chromatin
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`in a cell actively expressing that locus (Walters et al.,
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`conformation but also delays the time of replication
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`1995, 1996; Wijgerde et al., 1996). This further argues
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`from early to late in S phase in erythroid cells (Forrester
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`that one of the major functions of the LCR is to open
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`et al., 1990). Replication of the /3-globin gene locus
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`a chromatin domain around the locus in erythroid cells.
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`normally initiates just 5' to the /J-globin gene (Kitsberg
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`et al., 1993), which is 50 kb 3' to the LCR. Surprisingly,
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`In fact, deletion of most of the LCR but not the /3-
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`globin genes, e.g., as occurs in Hispanic (yb/3)-thalas­
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`chromosomes with the Hispanic thalassemia deletion no
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`semia, leaves the gene cluster in a chromatin conforma­
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`longer use the normal replication origin, even though it
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`tion that is inaccessible to DNase I, and the globin
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`is intact, but instead use an origin located 3' to the /3-
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`genes are not expressed (Forrester et al., 1990). Thus,
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`globin locus (Aladjem et al., 1995).
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`this loss-of-function analysis also shows that the LCR
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`is necessary for the establishment and maintenance of
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`an open chromatin domain within which the globin
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`genes are expressed (Fig. 2).
`The effects of the LCR, if any, on developmental
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`Minimal DNA sequences that confer position-inde­
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`regulation are more complicated to analyze. Several
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`pendent expression of a linked /3-globin gene in
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`lines of evidence show that sequences proximal to the
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`genes are sufficient to specify expression at a given
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`transgenic mice have been determined in regions around
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`the sites of strong DNase cleavage (reviewed in Grosveld
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`developmental stage. In the absence of an LCR, human
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`et al., 1993). These regions are referred to as the
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`/3-like globin genes are expressed at the 'correct' develop­
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`'hypersensitive site cores' for HSI, HS2, HS3 and HS4.
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`mental stage in transgenic mice, i.e., mimicking the
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`expression pattern of the orthologous endogenous
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`mouse genes (summarized in Trudel and Costantini,
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`1987). In fact, developmental switching can occur
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`Transgene constructs that confer full protection from
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`between human y-and /3-globin genes in transgenic mice
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`in the absence of an LCR (Starck et al., 1994 ), demon­
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`position effects should not be affected by any adjacent
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`sequences. Thus, when the construct is integrated in
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`strating that the LCR is not essential for switching.
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`Point mutations in the promoter of the human y-globin
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`multiple copies, as is frequently the case in transgenic
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`mice lines and in stably transfected cultured cells, each
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`genes are associated with prolonged expression in the
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`copy should be expressed independently of other copies,
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`adult stage, i.e., hereditary persistence of fetal hemoglo­
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`resulting in a level of expression that increases linearly
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`bin (reviewed in Stamatoyannopoulos et al., 1994).
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`with the number of copies. This 'copy-number-depen­
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`Detailed studies of the human E-and y-globin genes in
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`dent' expression has been observed in some cases with
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`constructs also containing LCR fragments have revealed
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`particular fragments of the /3-globin LCR (Talbot et al.,
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`sequences extending up to about 0.8 kb away from the
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`1989), as well as with the chicken /3/E-globin enhancer
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`gene that have both positive and negative effects on
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`developmental control (Stamatoyannopoulos et al.,
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`(Reitman and Felsenfeld, 1990). Other experiments with
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`1993; Trepicchio et al., 1993; Li and Stamatoy­
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`fragments of the /3-globin LCR do not show a clear
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`annopoulos, 1994b; Trepicchio et al., 1994 ). Recent
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`dependence on copy-number (Ryan et al., 1989), and
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`studies in transgenic mice show that the human y-globin
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`occasional studies show inverse relationships between
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`copy number and level of expression (Morley et al.,
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`gene is expressed fetally, whereas the orthologous galago
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`y-globin gene is expressed embryonically, in the context
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`1992; TomHon et al., 1997). Although the minimal
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`of an otherwise identical transgene construct (TomHon
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`sequences that will achieve full dependence on copy
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`et al., 1997). This recapitulation of developmental speci­
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`number are not yet known, this property appears to
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`ficity shows that the dominant determinants of develop­
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`require sequences from both the LCR and the gene
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`mental timing are encoded by nucleotide differences
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`proximal region (Lloyd et al., 1992; Fraser et al., 1993;
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`within the 4.0-kb fragment containing the y-globin gene.
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`Li and Stamatoyannopoulos, 1994b ). For the y-globin
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`Although developmental switches in expression can
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`gene, copy-number dependence requires both sequences
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`occur in the absence of the LCR, it is still possible that,
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`3' to the y-globin gene and one or more elements in the
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`HS cores (Stamatoyannopoulos et al., 1997).
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`when present, the LCR participates directly in develop­
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`mental regulation (e.g., Stamatoyannopoulos, 1991;
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`Wijgerde et al., 1996). Addition of the LCR to a single
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`human /3-or y-globin gene will alter developmental
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`control (Fig. 2), leading to precocious expression of the
`In addition to the strong effects of the /3-globin LCR
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`/3-globin gene in embryonic red cells and expression of
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`on chromatin opening and enhancement of expression,
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`the y-globin gene in fetal and adult stages (Enver et al.,
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`the LCR also has a dominant effect on the regulation
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`1989; Behringer et al., 1990). Inclusion of bothy-and
`
`
`
`
`of replication in the locus. The Hispanic (yb/3)-thalas-
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`2.4. Replication of the locus
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`77
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`2.6. Models for LCR action
`
`cells. This could occur indirectly, with recognition of
`
`
`
`
`
`
`{1-globin genes will improve the developmental switch­
`
`
`specific sequences in the LCR by trans-activator proteins
`
`
`
`ing, leading to a model of competition between promot­
`
`such as members of the APl family of proteins and
`ers for the LCR (Enver et al., 1990). The order of
`
`
`
`recruitment of chromatin remodeling and/or histone
`
`
`
`multiple globin genes in LCR-containing constructs also
`
`
`
`modifying activities by specific interaction between these
`
`
`
`influences their regulation (Hanscombe et al., 1991;
`
`
`enzymes and the trans-activator. For instance, the
`
`
`Peterson and Stamatoyannopoulos, 1993). Although
`
`
`
`co-activator proteins CBP and P300 are histone acetyl
`
`
`these data can be explained by a competition model,
`
`
`
`transferases and also interact with APl (Ogrysko et al.,
`
`
`the apparent loss of developmental control seen in the
`
`
`
`1996). In addition, some DNA sequences in the LCR
`
`
`presence of an LCR could result from the increased
`
`
`
`
`could recruit chromatin remodeling and modifying activ­
`
`
`
`sensitivity of the assays, and the effects of additional
`
`ities directly.
`
`
`genes in the construct can be explained by gene order
`Several other issues remain unresolved. For instance,
`
`
`
`
`
`effects (such as transcriptional interference from the
`
`upstream gene) as opposed to proximity to the LCR
`
`
`the LCR could influence all or several of the genes in
`
`
`
`
`the locus at once (Bresnick and Felsenfeld, 1994; Martin
`
`(Martin et al., 1996).
`
`
`et al., 1996) or it could serve to activate expression of
`The effects that led to models of competition in
`
`
`
`one gene at a time (Wijgerde et al., 1995). If the LCR
`
`
`
`developmental regulation are seen primarily for the
`
`
`does influence predominantly one gene at time, it could
`
`
`regulation of the human {1-globin gene. The €-globin
`
`
`
`do so by interaction directly with the target gene with
`
`
`(Raich et al., 1990; Shih et al., 1990), a-globin and (­
`
`
`
`
`looping out of DNA between this distal regulator and
`
`
`globin (Pondel et al., 1992; Liebhaber et al., 1996) genes
`
`the proximal regulatory elements (Grosveld et al., 1993)
`
`
`
`are autonomously regulated during development in the
`
`
`or the positive effect of the LCR could 'track' along the
`
`
`
`
`presence of LCR-like elements, and constructs contain­
`
`
`
`DNA to the target gene (Tuan et al., 1992). Neither the
`
`
`
`ing larger LCR fragments with the y-globin gene also
`
`
`
`
`molecular targets of the direct interactions (in the former
`
`
`
`show autonomous regulation (Dillon and Grosveld,
`
`
`model) nor the molecular basis of the tracking effects
`1991 ).
`
`
`'tracking' (in the latter model) are known. For instance,
`
`
`
`could involve movement of transcription factors along
`
`
`the DNA, or it could result from spreading of the active
`
`chromatin domain down the locus.
`
`
`
`Many studies are consistent with the hypothesis that
`
`
`several DNase HSs in the LCR work together in a
`
`
`
`
`holocomplex to generate the several effects enumerated
`
`
`
`above. One explicit model stating that each HS has a
`
`
`predominant effect on only one specific gene in the
`DNA sequences of much of the {1-globin LCR are
`
`
`
`
`
`
`cluster (Engel, 1993) can be excluded since deletions of
`
`
`
`
`now available from several mammalian species, includ­
`
`
`
`
`single HSs in the context of entire gene clusters either
`ing human (Li et al., 1985; Yu et al., 1994), galago
`
`
`have little effect or affect expression of all the genes in
`
`
`
`(Slightom et al., 1997), rabbit (Hardison et al., 1993;
`
`the locus (reviewed below). Indeed, removal of any
`
`
`Slightom et al., 1997), goat (Li et al., 1991) and mouse
`
`
`
`single HS makes the entire human {1-globin gene cluster
`
`(Moon and Ley, 1990; Hug et al., 1992; Jimenez et al.,
`
`
`
`more sensitive to position effects in transgenic mice
`
`
`
`
`1992). The remainder of this review will discuss insights
`
`
`
`(Milot et al., 1996), arguing that this defining property
`
`
`
`into the regions required for LCR function based on
`
`
`of the LCR requires all of the HSs. This result contrasts
`
`
`
`patterns of conservation revealed by a simultaneous
`
`
`
`with the implications of reports on the ability of indivi­
`
`
`
`alignment of these DNA sequences (Slightam et al.,
`
`
`dual HSs to provide position-independent, copy-number
`
`1997). Key features of the LCRs from the different
`
`
`
`
`dependent expression (e.g., Fraser et al., 1993), and the
`mammals are mapped in Fig. 3.
`
`
`
`molecular basis for this apparent discrepancy is not
`
`
`
`clear. Functional interactions between the HSs have
`
`3.1. Conservation of number and order of HSs
`
`
`been demonstrated, but require DNA sequences inside
`
`
`
`and outside the core HSs (reviewed below). Thus,
`All of the known mammalian /1-globin LCRs have
`
`
`
`
`
`
`although several individual HSs do exhibit substantial
`
`segments homologous to HSI, HS2 and HS3 (Fig. 3).
`
`
`function alone, it is most likely that they normally
`
`
`
`HS4 is likely present in all these species as well, although
`
`
`
`interact in a holocomplex (Ellis et al., 1996) that encom­
`
`
`
`the currently available goat sequence does not include
`
`
`passes a substantial amount of DNA.
`
`
`
`the region corresponding to HS4. Homologs to human
`
`The ability of the LCR to open a chromosomal
`
`HS5 are found in galago (Slightam et al., 1997) and
`
`
`domain suggests that it recruits chromatin-remodeling
`
`mouse (A. Reik, M. Bender and M. Groudine, pers.
`
`activities such as SWI/SNF (Cote et al., 1994; Peterson
`
`
`
`commun.), suggesting a wide distribution of HS5 as
`
`
`and Tamkun, 1995) and/or histone acetyl transferases
`
`
`well. If HS5 is present in rabbit, it does not occur in
`
`
`(Brownell et al., 1996) to this locus, but only in erythroid
`
`
`the same place in human or galago. Thus the presence
`
`
`
`
`
`3.Sequence analysis of mammalian P-globin LCRs
`
`
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`R Hardison et al. / Gene 205 ( 1997) 73-94
`
`0 2000 4000 6000 8000 10000 12000 14000 16000 18000 20000 22000
`
`HSS
`
`HS4
`
`HS3
`
`HS2
`
`HS1
`
`Human
`
`I ►I ◄ I ► ►'6inhum.► �
`
`• ..
`
`f"globi+
`
`◄
`
`0 2000 4000 6000 8000 10000 12000 14000 16000 18000 20000 22000
`
`-globin
`
`Galago
`
`0
`
`2000 4000 6000 8000 10000 12000 14000 16000 18000 20000 22000
`
`0
`
`2000 4000 6000 8000 10000 12000 14000 16000
`
`not sequenced
`in goat
`
`� I � � � I ���B-
`
`10000 12000 14000 16000
`18000 20000 22000
`2000 4000 6000 8000
`
`L1Md
`
`L 1Md >--------it--globin
`
`Goat
`
`Mouse
`
`0
`
`I- ,,_---I
`
`
`
`distance = 6.5 kb in a allele (BALB/c)
`
`5.0 kb in b allele (C67BU6J)
`
`Fig. 3. Mammalian p-globin LCRs. Maps of the p-globin LCRs of human, galago, rabbit, goat and mouse show the positions of HS cores in
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`humans, their homologs in other species, positions and identities of repeats, and the new regions sequenced in rabbit (double-arrowed lines under
`
`
`
`
`
`
`the rabbit p-globin LCR map). The HS cores are shown as boxes with distinctive fills, long interspersed repeats (Lis) are open arrowed boxes,
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`and short interspersed repeats are triangles (in the latter two cases, the icon points in the direction that the repeat is oriented). Short repeats are
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`in mouse. in goats, and Bl repeats Alu repeats in humans, both type I and type II Alu repeats in galago, C repeats in rabbits, Nia and D repeats
`
`
`
`
`An insertion between positions 14 419 and 14 599 of galago does not match any known short or long repeats, and it may represent a newly
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`discovered repeat. An insertion of 81 bp that begins at position 3614 of galago is a novel short insertion sequence.
`
`
`
`3.2. Conserved sequences within the LCR
`
`
`
`
`
`of four (HSl-4) and possibly all five major HSs is
`
`Fig. 4. The information content reflects both the amount
`
`
`
`
`
`
`conserved in these eutherian mammals. This conserva­
`
`
`
`of variability in a column in a multiple alignment as
`
`
`
`well as the base composition for the sequences being
`
`
`
`tion extends even further back in evolutionary time,
`
`
`
`
`aligned, and provides a finely graded function for meas­
`
`with at least LCR HS2, HS3, HS4, and possibly HSI
`
`uring conservation. The second method simply finds
`
`
`being found in Australian marsupials and monotremes
`
`
`(R. Baird, J. Kuliwaba, R. Hope, M. Goodman et al.,
`
`
`runs of exact matches; Fig. 4 plots positions with seven
`
`or more consecutive invariant columns such that
`
`personal communication).
`
`
`
`sequences from some minimal number of species align
`
`
`(four in one case, three in the other). A third method
`
`
`
`(Stojanovic et al., 1997) was devised to better reflect
`
`
`
`
`matches found at protein binding sites. Specifically,
`We used the program yama2 (Chao et al., 1994) to
`
`
`
`Fig. 4 identifies all runs of six or more columns possess­
`
`compute a simultaneous alignment of the available
`
`
`
`
`ing a plausible consensus sequence, i.e., each row in that
`
`
`mammalian {3-globin LCR sequences. We then used
`
`
`region can have at most one mismatch with the (a priori
`
`
`three different approaches to search for conserved
`
`
`
`unspecified) consensus. This requirement mimics the
`
`
`
`
`sequences at a variety of criteria (Slightom et al., 1997;
`
`
`
`documented ability of some proteins to bind equally
`
`
`
`Stojanovic et al., 1997). The first method computes the
`
`
`well to similar but not identical sequences. For instance,
`
`information content
`
`of each column (Schneider et al.,
`GATAl binds to AGATAA or to TGATAG, which each
`
`
`1986); the positions of the 10 and 30 blocks with the
`
`
`
`highest information content (HIC) are displayed in
`
`differ in only one position from AGATAG.
`
`
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`R.Hardison et al./ Gene 205 ( 1997) 73-94
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`79
`
`HS2
`
`; H$1
`
`HS4 HS3
`HS cores
`HSs
`10 HIC
`30 HIC
`1=7, n=4
`1=7, n=3
`1 mismatch
`DPF
`AP1/NFE2
`CACBP
`GATA
`TATTT/ATTTA
`
`clusters that some single-copy regions do not align
`
`
`
`
`
`
`(Hardison et al., 1994; Hardison and Miller, 1993). One
`1f11 I II' 11111;
`
`
`
`
`
`notable example is the intergenic region between the c5-
`I II I I I
`'
`II 11 1 11111 II II II 1111 I I
`
`and p-globin genes in mouse vs. human comparisons
`I Ill 'I II I I I
`
`
`
`(Hardison et al., 1997). This shows that in the time
`1111111 1111 Ill 'I II 11 II I I Ill I
`
`
`
`since the ancestors to rodents and primates separated,
`11 I I HIIIIIIIH 11111111111 11111 Ill 111111
`
`
`
`
`1 II
`I, 11 I I 11 II ,
`
`
`some sequences in this locus (presumably those not
`I
`I
`
`
`
`
`necessary for function) have diverged extensively. Thus,
`I I II I I I
`
`
`the phylogenetic footprints in the LCR are indeed
`I
`II I II 11 I
`1111 II II 1111 i 1 1I
`
`
`candidates for functional sequences.
`
`4000 6000 8000 10000 12000 14000 16000
`position
`
`3.3. Correspondence between DNase HSs and conserved
`
`
`
`
`blocks
`
`3.4. Repeated, conserved sequence motifs in the LCR and
`
`Fig. 4. Positions of selected features revealed by the multiple sequence
`
`
`
`
`
`The positions of DNase HSs are also plotted in Fig. 4.
`
`
`
`
`alignment. The positions of the HS cores are shown on the top line.
`
`
`Several HSs are reported around each of the cores.
`
`
`Reported positions of DNase HSs are on the second line. The next
`
`
`Although some of this heterogeneity simply reflects
`
`
`
`
`five lines show the positions of conserved sequences, as detected by
`
`
`
`multiple reports of the same HS, some of it results from
`
`
`
`
`
`three different methods. Differential phylogenetic footprints (DPFs)
`
`
`
`
`are on line 8. Conserved matches to consensus binding sites for the
`
`
`
`a wide distribution of cleavage. For instance, the regions
`
`
`indicated proteins are shown on lines 9-11. The last line shows posi­
`
`
`
`around HS3 and HS2 have DNase cleavage sites outside
`
`
`one mismatch tions of matches between the
`(line
`unspecified consensus
`
`
`the minimal cores (Philipsen et al., 1990; Talbot et al.,
`
`7)and the motifs TATTT or ATTTA. GenBank entry HUMHBB
`
`1990). DNase HSs have been mapped at approximate
`
`
`
`begins at 2688 in the current human sequence file.
`
`
`positions 6200 (Stamatoyannopoulos et al., 1995) and
`
`6500 (Tuan et al., 1985), which are about 1000 bp 5' to
`These various methods for finding conserved segments
`
`
`the HS3 core. This is the same region that displays
`
`
`
`
`
`multiple conserved sequence blocks, showing a good
`
`
`
`
`produce generally congruent results, with substantial
`
`congruence between HS mapping and conserved
`
`
`
`overlap in the blocks detected by each of the methods.
`
`
`This indicates that the combination of the various
`
`
`sequences not only in the cores but far outside them
`
`
`
`
`methods for finding conserved sequences is quite robust.
`as well.
`
`
`
`As expected, all three methods find strongly conserved
`
`
`blocks within the HS cores, as well as juxtaposed to
`
`
`
`proteins that bind to them
`
`
`
`them (in particular, a phylogenetic footprint located just
`
`3' to the HS4 core and an API binding site immediately
`
`
`5' to the HS3 core). In addition, some, but not all, of
`The distribution of conserved binding sites for some
`
`
`
`
`
`
`the regions between the cores are conserved, with some
`
`
`
`
`prominent proteins involved in globin gene regulation
`
`
`
`
`phylogenetic footprints as strongly conserved as those
`
`
`
`
`was determined by searching for matches between the
`
`
`
`
`in the HS cores. Notable conserved regions are as much
`
`
`
`
`consensus sequence for the protein binding sites and the
`as 1000 bp 5' to and 3' to the HS3 core and also 5' to
`
`
`
`
`'unspecified consensus' computed allowing one mis­
`
`
`the HS2 core. Interestingly, a conserved sequence is
`
`
`match (see Section 3.2. above). As shown in Fig. 4, three
`
`
`located between HS2 and HS 1 as well.
`
`
`
`
`conserved segments matching the consensus API bind­
`
`
`The pattern of many conserved blocks in certain
`
`
`ing site (