ATRX-mediated chromatin association of histone variant macroH2A1 regulates alpha globin gene expression

ABSTRACT: The histone variant macroH2A generally associates with transcriptionally inert chromatin, however the factors that regulate its chromatin incorporation remain elusive. Here, we identify the SWI/SNF helicase, ATRX, as a novel macroH2A interacting protein. Unlike its role in assisting H3.3 chromatin deposition, ATRX acts as a negative regulator of macroH2A’s chromatin association. In human erythroleukemic cells deficient for ATRX, ChIP-sequencing studies reveal that macroH2A accumulates at the HBA gene cluster on the subtelomere of chromosome 16, coinciding with the loss of α globin expression. Collectively, our results implicate deregulation of macroH2A’s distribution as a contributing factor to the α thalassemia phenotype of ATRX syndrome. Mononucleosomes from K562 cells bearing integrated

ORGANISM(S): Homo sapiens

SUBMITTER: Emily Bernstein 

PROVIDER: E-GEOD-35339 | biostudies-arrayexpress |

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-arrayexpress