Screening for trans-acting factors and other factors involved in the activating or silencing of the gamma-globin gene during human ontogeny.

Abstract

Researchers hope to increase gamma-globin expression by controlling potential trans-acting factors that specifically activate the gamma-globin gene in fetuses or silence this gene in adults to potentially treat sickle cell disease and beta-thalassemias. To characterize genes encoding such factors, we analyzed the differential expression of mRNAs in erythroid induction cultures of CD34+ cells derived from normal adult bone marrow, umbilical cord blood, and bone marrow from a patient with heterocellular hereditary persistence of fetal hemoglobin. Using differential-display - reverse-transcription PCR analysis, we identified a number of genes with differential expression in the above-mentioned cells. The differential expression of some genes was also confirmed by quantitative real-time PCR. Our data provide important clues for identifying and validating trans-activators that activate the gamma-globin gene in fetuses, and trans-acting factors involved in silencing the gamma-globin gene in adults.

• Authors: Yan-Ni Ma, Xin Zhang, Jun-Wu Zhang, Xin-Hua Zhang, Rong-Xin Wang
• Journal: Biochemistry and cell biology = Biochimie et biologie cellulaire (Biochem Cell Biol) Vol. 85 Issue 3 Pg. 347-57 (Jun 2007) ISSN: 0829-8211 [Print] Canada
• PMID: 17612629 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Antigens, CD34
• DNA Primers
• RNA, Messenger
• Trans-Activators
• Globins

Topics

• Adult
• Antigens, CD34 (metabolism)
• Base Sequence
• Bone Marrow Cells (cytology, immunology, metabolism)
• Cells, Cultured
• DNA Primers (genetics)
• Erythropoiesis (genetics)
• Expressed Sequence Tags
• Fetal Blood (cytology, immunology, metabolism)
• Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental
• Gene Silencing
• Globins (genetics)
• Humans
• In Vitro Techniques
• Infant, Newborn
• RNA, Messenger (genetics, metabolism)
• Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
• Trans-Activators (metabolism)