The main function of red blood cells, which carry and exchange oxygen, depends on hemoglobin, a heterotetramer composed of two a and two ?-globin chains and associated iron-binding heme groups. Mutations of globin genes are among the most common inherited diseases and cause mild or severe anemia in the human population. Current treatments of severe anemia are largely unsatisfactory and it is anticipated that knowledge of how the globin genes are regulated will aide in the development of novel therapies. Erythroid-specific expression of the globin genes requires cis-regulatory DNA elements located in gene proximal or distal regions. The ?-like globin genes are regulated by a locus control region (LCR), which is composed of several DNase I hypersensitive (HS) sites and located far upstream of the genes. HS2 is perhaps the most powerful regulatory element in the LCR. It consists of several binding sites for hematopoietic and ubiquitously expressed transcription factors. One of these sites is an E-box that interacts with the helix-loop-helix protein USF. USF also interacts with E-box elements in the ?-globin gene promoter and previous work has shown that USF is required for efficient recruitment of RNA polymerase II (Pol II) to LCR element HS2 and to the ?-globin gene promoter. In addition, we have shown that USF mediates the boundary activity of the chicken 2-globin insulator HS4, which maintains an accessible chromatin conformation over the globin genes in erythroid cells. Our preliminary data demonstrate that USF1 interacts with large co-activator complexes containing two histone methyltransferases PRMT1 and hSET1. We hypothesize that USF recruits histone modifying enzymes to establish and/or maintain an open chromatin structure at boundary elements and at regulatory elements in the ?-globin locus, which in turn controls erythroid-specific and developmental stage-specific globin expression. We will test the function of USF and associated histone modifying enzymes in establishing and maintaining chromatin barrier function and tissue specific transcriptional regulation of the ?-globin locus. Finally, we will investigate how the stability of USF is regulated during differentiation of erythroid cells. Our studies on epigenetic alterations in the ?-globin gene locus are anticipated to provide new insight into the transcriptional control of globin genes and may lead to novel strategies for the molecular therapy of anemia. Furthermore, addressing the role of USF in ?-globin gene regulation may shed light on the mechanisms involved in enhancer promoter interactions.

Public Health Relevance

Project Narrative: ?-globin, an important component of hemoglobin, plays a critical function in the transport and exchange of oxygen in red blood cells in which genetic defects of this gene have been implicated in mild to severe anemia. In this proposal, we will investigate the epigenetic mechanisms by which nuclear proteins USF1/2 regulate globin gene expression and chromatin barrier function in the globin loci. The studies will provide a novel insight into USF function in the regulation of developmental stage-specific globin gene expression and will lead to novel strategies for the molecular therapy of anemia.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
1R01HL091929-01A1
Application #
7581741
Study Section
Erythrocyte and Leukocyte Biology Study Section (ELB)
Program Officer
Qasba, Pankaj
Project Start
2009-02-13
Project End
2014-01-31
Budget Start
2009-02-13
Budget End
2010-01-31
Support Year
1
Fiscal Year
2009
Total Cost
$362,822
Indirect Cost
Name
University of Florida
Department
Biochemistry
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
969663814
City
Gainesville
State
FL
Country
United States
Zip Code
32611
Stees, Jared R; Hossain, Mir A; Sunose, Tomoki et al. (2016) High Fractional Occupancy of a Tandem Maf Recognition Element and Its Role in Long-Range ?-Globin Gene Regulation. Mol Cell Biol 36:238-50
Yang, H; Yan, B; Liao, D et al. (2015) Acetylation of HDAC1 and degradation of SIRT1 form a positive feedback loop to regulate p53 acetylation during heat-shock stress. Cell Death Dis 6:e1747
Salz, Tal; Deng, Changwang; Pampo, Christine et al. (2015) Histone Methyltransferase hSETD1A Is a Novel Regulator of Metastasis in Breast Cancer. Mol Cancer Res 13:461-9
Tusi, Betsabeh Khoramian; Deng, Changwang; Salz, Tal et al. (2015) Setd1a regulates progenitor B-cell-to-precursor B-cell development through histone H3 lysine 4 trimethylation and Ig heavy-chain rearrangement. FASEB J 29:1505-15
Li, Xuehui; Yang, Hui; Huang, Suming et al. (2014) Histone deacetylase 1 and p300 can directly associate with chromatin and compete for binding in a mutually exclusive manner. PLoS One 9:e94523
Patel, B; Kang, Y; Cui, K et al. (2014) Aberrant TAL1 activation is mediated by an interchromosomal interaction in human T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Leukemia 28:349-61
Salz, Tal; Li, Guangyao; Kaye, Frederic et al. (2014) hSETD1A regulates Wnt target genes and controls tumor growth of colorectal cancer cells. Cancer Res 74:775-86
Yang, Hui; Salz, Tal; Zajac-Kaye, Maria et al. (2014) Overexpression of histone deacetylases in cancer cells is controlled by interplay of transcription factors and epigenetic modulators. FASEB J 28:4265-79
Deng, Changwang; Li, Ying; Liang, Shermi et al. (2013) USF1 and hSET1A mediated epigenetic modifications regulate lineage differentiation and HoxB4 transcription. PLoS Genet 9:e1003524
Li, Y; Deng, C; Hu, X et al. (2012) Dynamic interaction between TAL1 oncoprotein and LSD1 regulates TAL1 function in hematopoiesis and leukemogenesis. Oncogene 31:5007-18

Showing the most recent 10 out of 20 publications