RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Identification of MAZ as a novel transcription factor regulating erythropoiesis
JF bioRxiv
FD Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory
SP 2020.05.10.087254
DO 10.1101/2020.05.10.087254
A1 Darya Deen
A1 Falk Butter
A1 Michelle L. Holland
A1 Vasiliki Samara
A1 Jacqueline A. Sloane-Stanley
A1 Helena Ayyub
A1 Matthias Mann
A1 David Garrick
A1 Douglas Vernimmen
YR 2020
UL http://biorxiv.org/content/early/2020/05/10/2020.05.10.087254.abstract
AB Erythropoiesis requires a combination of ubiquitous and tissue-specific transcription factors. Here, through DNA affinity purification followed by mass spectrometry, we have identified the widely expressed protein MAZ (Myc-associated zinc finger) as a transcription factor that binds to the promoter of the erythroid-specific human α-globin gene. Genome-wide mapping in primary human erythroid cells revealed that MAZ also occupies active promoters as well as GATA1-bound enhancer elements of key erythroid genes. Consistent with an important role during erythropoiesis, knockdown of MAZ in primary human erythroid cells impairs erythroid differentiation, and genetic variants in the MAZ locus are associated with clinically important human erythroid traits. Taken together, these findings reveal the Zinc-finger transcription factor MAZ to be a previously unrecognised regulator of the erythroid differentiation program.Competing Interest StatementThe authors have declared no competing interest.