The primary transcription unit of the human alpha 2 globin gene defined by quantitative RT/PCR.
We have set up an experimental system to map the primary transcription unit of the human alpha 2 globin gene. The duplicated human alpha globin genes (alpha 2-alpha 1) were linked to the alpha globin locus Positive Regulatory Element (PRE) and stably transfected into murine erythroleukaemia cells. We then developed a quantitative reverse transcriptase, polymerase chain reaction assay to map alpha 2 primary transcripts using primer pairs derived from different parts of the alpha 2 globin gene and its 3' flanking region. This approach has revealed the presence of steady state nuclear RNA past the poly(A) site of the alpha 2 globin gene at approximately 40% of the level of unspliced intron transcript. Furthermore, these 3' flanking transcripts diminish 500 bp into the 3' flanking region, identifying this part of the alpha 2 globin gene as the principal region of termination of transcription.
Sir William Dunn School of Pathology, University of Oxford, UK.
C M
CM
Owczarek
P
P
Enriquez-Harris
N J
NJ
Proudfoot
D001483:Base Sequence; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D004742:Enhancer Elements, Genetic / Q000235:genetics; D005914:Globins / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D005810:Multigene Family / Q000235:genetics*; D011061:Poly A / Q000235:genetics; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics*; D012194:RNA-Directed DNA Polymerase / Q000378:metabolism; D014158:Transcription, Genetic / Q000235:genetics*; D014162:Transfection / Q000235:genetics; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured
D012333:RNA, Messenger; D011061:Poly A; D005914:Globins; D012194:RNA-Directed DNA Polymerase