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The nucleosome remodeling and deacetylase (NuRD) complex is a chromatin modifier with a key role in the switch from fetal to adult hemoglobin. In a new study, Vinjamur et al. identify a fetal hemoglobin repressor, ZNF410, which does not directly bind the γ-globin promoter but acts through highly specific regulation of CHD4, a protein subunit of the NuRD complex, thus presenting a potential approach for therapeutic reactivation of fetal hemoglobin. Fig.

Sickle cell anemia is an inherited disorder caused by a point mutation (affecting a single nucleotide) in the gene that encodes the β-globin chain of hemoglobin (Hbβ). Two β-globin chains and two α-globin chains form hemoglobin, the multisubunit protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen. The mutation results in the replacement of negatively charged glutamate by a neutral, hydrophobic valine that produces sticky patches on the protein surface.

BMC Molecular Biology20067:33 https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2199-7-33 ©  Silver et al; licensee BioMed Central Ltd. 2006 Received: 27 June 2006 Accepted: 06 October 2006 Published: 06 October 2006 Abstract Background Control genes, which are often referred to as housekeeping genes, are frequently used to normalise mRNA levels between different samples. However, the expression level of these genes may vary among tissues or cells and may change under certain circumstances.