Patterns of histone acetylation suggest dual pathways for gene activation by a bifunctional locus control region.

ABSTRACT: The five genes of the human growth hormone (hGH) cluster are expressed in either the pituitary or placenta. Activation of the cluster is dependent on a locus control region (LCR) comprising pituitary- specific (HSI,II, -15 kb), placenta-specific (HSIV, -30 kb) and shared (HSIII, -28 kb; HSV, -32 kb) DNase I hypersensitive sites. Gene activation in the pituitary is paralleled by acetylation of a 32 kb chromatin domain 5' to the cluster centered at HSI,II. In the present study we observed that acetylation of this region in placental chromatin was discretely limited to shared HSIII and HSV. Transgenic studies revealed placenta-specific activation of linked genes by a determinant (P-element) located 2 kb 5' to each of the four placentally expressed genes. A localized peak of histone acetylatio

SUBMITTER: Elefant F 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC305892 | biostudies-literature | 2000 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature