Comparative analysis of three-dimensional chromosomal architecture identifies a novel fetal hemoglobin regulatory element.

ABSTRACT: Chromatin structure is tightly intertwined with transcription regulation. Here we compared the chromosomal architectures of fetal and adult human erythroblasts and found that, globally, chromatin structures and compartments A/B are highly similar at both developmental stages. At a finer scale, we detected distinct folding patterns at the developmentally controlled β-globin locus. Specifically, new fetal stage-specific contacts were uncovered between a region separating the fetal (γ) and adult (δ and β) globin genes (encompassing the HBBP1 and BGLT3 noncoding genes) and two distal chromosomal sites (HS5 and 3'HS1) that flank the locus. In contrast, in adult cells, the HBBP1-BGLT3 region contacts the embryonic ε-globin gene, physically separating the fetal globin

SUBMITTER: Huang P 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5647940 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature