Folding Keratin Gene Clusters during Skin Regional Specification.
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ABSTRACT:
SUBMITTER: Liang YC
PROVIDER: S-EPMC7386462 | biostudies-literature |
REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature
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Project description:Regional specification is critical for skin development, regeneration and evolution. The contribution of epigenetics in this process remains unknown. Here using avian epidermis we find two major strategies regulate β-keratin gene clusters. 1) Over the body, macro-regional specificities (scales, feathers, claws, etc) established by typical enhancers control five sub-clusters located within the epidermal differentiation complex on chromosome 25; 2) Within a feather, micro-regional specificities are orchestrated by temporo-spatial chromatin looping of the feather β-keratin gene cluster on chromosome 27. Analyses suggest a 3-factor model for regional specification: competence factors (e.g., AP1) make chromatin accessible, regional specifiers (e.g., Zic1) target specific genome regions, and chromatin organizers (e.g., CTCF, SATB2) establish looping configurations. Gene perturbations disrupt morphogenesis and histo-differentiation. This chicken skin paradigm advances our understanding of how regulation of big gene clusters can set up a two-dimensional body surface map.
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Project description:Folding Keratin Gene Clusters During Skin Specification
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