High-mobility group protein 2 may be involved in the locus control region regulation of the beta-globin gene cluster

Biochem Cell Biol. 2002;80(6):765-70. doi: 10.1139/o02-164.

Abstract

Expression regulation of the beta-globin gene cluster is a result of synergistic interactions between cis-elements and trans-acting factors. Previous studies usually concentrated on the core sequence of each hypersensitive site in the locus control region of the beta-globin gene cluster. But more and more evidence illustrates that the flanking regions are indispensable also. Using electrophoretic mobility shift assay and solid-phase DNase I footprinting methods, we identified a small nuclear protein from K562 cells that binds specifically to the first AT-rich region flanking the hypersensitive site 2 core sequence of the human beta-globin gene locus control region. N-terminal sequencing of the enriched protein proved that it is a member of the high-mobility group protein 2 family. This indicates that the AT-rich region in human hypersensitive site 2 may take part in the regulation of the beta-globin gene cluster by facilitating DNA bending, which is a prerequisite for the looping mechanism in this region.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Base Sequence
  • DNA Footprinting
  • Gene Expression Regulation*
  • Globins / genetics*
  • HMGB2 Protein / metabolism*
  • Humans
  • K562 Cells
  • Locus Control Region / genetics*
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Multigene Family / genetics*
  • Response Elements / genetics

Substances

  • HMGB2 Protein
  • Globins