Epigenetic interplay at the β-globin locus

Abstract

During development, the α- and β-globin genes exhibit a highly conserved pattern of expression, giving rise to several developmental stage-specific hemoglobin variants. Networks of regulatory proteins interact with epigenetic complexes to regulate DNA accessibility and histone modifications, thereby determining appropriate patterns of globin gene expression. In this review, we focus on recent advances in the understanding of the molecular mechanisms that underpin globin gene expression, focusing on multi-subunit regulatory complexes that bind to specific regions of DNA to orchestrate globin gene transcription throughout development.