title: Characterization of the major regulatory element upstream of the human alpha-globin gene cluster.
abstract: The major positive regulatory activity of the human alpha-globin gene complex has been localized to an element associated with a strong erythroid-specific DNase I hypersensitive site (HS -40) located 40 kb upstream of the zeta 2-globin mRNA cap site. Footprint and gel shift analyses of the element have demonstrated the presence of four binding sites for the nuclear factor GATA-1 and two sites corresponding to the AP-1 consensus binding sequence. This region resembles one of the major elements of the beta-globin locus control region in its constitution and characteristics; this together with evidence from expression studies suggests that HS -40 is a primary element controlling alpha-globin gene expression.
authors.affiliation: MRC Molecular Haematology Unit, John Radcliffe Hospital, Headington, Oxford, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: A P
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Jarman
authors.forename: W G
authors.initials: WG
authors.lastname: Wood
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Sharpe
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Gourdon
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ayyub
authors.forename: D R
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Higgs
mesh_terms: D001483:Base Sequence; D004247:DNA; D003850:Deoxyribonuclease I / Q000378:metabolism; D004351:Drug Resistance / Q000235:genetics; D004591:Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D005914:Globins / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D005810:Multigene Family; D009355:Neomycin / Q000494:pharmacology; D012045:Regulatory Sequences, Nucleic Acid; D015183:Restriction Mapping; D014170:Transformation, Genetic
chemical_list: D005914:Globins; D004247:DNA; D003850:Deoxyribonuclease I; D009355:Neomycin