title: Identification of a stage selector element in the human gamma-globin gene promoter that fosters preferential interaction with the 5' HS2 enhancer when in competition with the beta-promoter.
abstract: The erythroid-specific enhancer within hypersensitivity site 2 (HS2) of the human beta-globin locus control region is required for high level globin gene expression. We investigated interaction between HS2 and the gamma- and beta-promoters using reporter constructs in transient assays in human erythroleukemia (K562) cells. The beta-promoter, usually silent in K562 cells, was activated by HS2. This activity was abolished when a gamma-promoter was linked in cis. Analysis of truncation mutants suggested that sequences conveying the competitive advantage of the gamma-promoter for HS2 included those between positions -53 and -35 relative to the transcriptional start site. This sequence, when used to replace the corresponding region of the beta-promoter, increased beta-promoter activity 10-fold when linked to HS2. The modified beta-promoter was also capable of competing with a gamma-promoter modified internally in the -53 to -35 region, when the two promoters were linked to HS2 in a single plasmid. The corresponding sequences from the Galago gamma-promoter, a species which lacks fetal gamma-gene expression, were inactive in analogous assays. We have identified and partially purified a nuclear protein found in human (fetal stage) erythroleukemia cells, but present in much lower concentration in murine (adult stage) erythroleukemia cells, that binds the -53 to -35 sequence of the gamma-promoter. We speculate that this region of the gamma-promoter functions as a stage selector element in the regulation of hemoglobin switching in humans.
authors.affiliation: National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892.
authors.forename: S M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Jane
authors.forename: P A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Ney
authors.forename: E F
authors.initials: EF
authors.lastname: Vanin
authors.forename: D L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Gumucio
authors.forename: A W
authors.initials: AW
authors.lastname: Nienhuis
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D001665:Binding Sites; D001667:Binding, Competitive; D002460:Cell Line; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000502:physiology; D015500:Chloramphenicol O-Acetyltransferase / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D004742:Enhancer Elements, Genetic; D015870:Gene Expression; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D005914:Globins / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D007700:Kinetics; D007942:Leukemia, Experimental; D015464:Leukemia, Myelogenous, Chronic, BCR-ABL Positive; D008156:Luciferases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D016297:Mutagenesis, Site-Directed; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D015183:Restriction Mapping; D014162:Transfection
chemical_list: D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins; D005914:Globins; D008156:Luciferases; D015500:Chloramphenicol O-Acetyltransferase