International Journal of Cell Cloning, Vol 9, 109-122, Copyright © 1991 by AlphaMed Press
Gene expression during erythropoiesis
K Takeshita and EJ Benz
Department of Internal Medicine, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut 06510-8056.
Erythropoiesis is considered to be the result of a series of molecular
events which alter gene expression. Recently, advances have been made in
the understanding of several aspects of erythroid gene expression. A
variety of transcription factors are now known to control expression of
specific genes in the nucleus. Some of these are influenced by action of
cytokines at the cell surface, an example of which is the interaction of
c-kit with its ligand, the stem cell factor. Abnormalities in the
regulation of transcription factor genes are implicated in leukemogenesis.
Furthermore, an additional level of complexity in gene expression is
provided post-transcriptionally, by which alternative splicing of RNA
transcripts result in erythroid- specific proteins. In this way, changes in
gene expression in erythroid progenitor cells directly contribute to the
formation of the mature erythrocyte.
