Human globin gene expression and linkage in bone marrow and fetal liver.
During embryonic development there is a transition from embryonic and fetal to adult beta-type globin chains. The high-molecular-weight RNA found in nuclei from embryonic and adult human erythropoietic tissues, fetal liver, and bone marrow, have been investigated for the presence of gamma(fetal)- and beta(adult)-globin messenger RNA sequences by molecular hybridization. Unlike alpha- and beta-globin mRNA sequences, gamma-globin mRNA sequences are absent from both total and high-molecular-weight nuclear RNA isolated from adult bone marrow. The amount of cytoplasmic gamma-globin mRNA is proportional to the level of gamma-chain synthesis, demonstrating that translational control is not a major control mechanism in the expression of globin genes. Since the gamma-, delta-, and beta-globin genes are known to be closely linked genetically, transcriptional control can discriminate between similar gene sequences that are spatially adjacent to one another.
D001853:Bone Marrow / Q000378:metabolism*; D001854:Bone Marrow Cells; D004247:DNA / Q000378:metabolism; D005796:Genes; D008040:Genetic Linkage; D005914:Globins / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008099:Liver / Q000196:embryology* / Q000378:metabolism; D009693:Nucleic Acid Hybridization; D010641:Phenotype; D014176:Protein Biosynthesis; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism*; D012156:Reticulocytes / Q000378:metabolism
D012333:RNA, Messenger; D005914:Globins; D004247:DNA