Epigenetic regulatory elements associate with specific histone modifications to prevent silencing of telomeric genes.

ABSTRACT: In eukaryotic cells, transgene expression levels may be limited by an unfavourable chromatin structure at the integration site. Epigenetic regulators are DNA sequences which may protect transgenes from such position effect. We evaluated different epigenetic regulators for their ability to protect transgene expression at telomeres, which are commonly associated to low or inconsistent expression because of their repressive chromatin environment. Although to variable extents, matrix attachment regions (MARs), ubiquitous chromatin opening element (UCOE) and the chicken cHS4 insulator acted as barrier elements, protecting a telomeric-distal transgene from silencing. MARs also increased the probability of silent gene reactivation in time-course experiments. Additionally, all MARs improved the le

SUBMITTER: Majocchi S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3874193 | biostudies-literature | 2014 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature