title: Independent expression of the two mouse adult beta-globin genes.
abstract: Dot blot hybridization was used to determine the relative amounts of the beta-major and beta-minor globin RNAs present in reticulocytes of mice at 14.5 and 17.5 days of gestation, newborns, and adults of the Hbab/Hbab;Hbbs2/Hbbs2 globin genotype. RNAs isolated from embryonic yolk sac, fetal liver, and adult reticulocytes were hybridized with the following labeled DNA probes: alpha-1, beta-minor specific, and beta-major specific. The level of beta-sminor RNA in reticulocytes at 14.5 and 17.5 days of gestation is nearly the same as in induced reticulocytes of adult mice. In contrast, the level of beta-s2major RNA in reticulocytes at 14.5 days of gestation is 0.23 X and at 17.5 days of gestation is 0.66 X the amount found in reticulocytes of adult mice. These results correlate well with earlier observations that the beta-sminor globin gene approaches its normal adult level of expression by 14.5 days of gestation, whereas the beta-s2major globin gene expression increases between 14.5 days of gestation and 6 days postnatally. They indicate that the differential expression of beta-sminor and beta-s2major globins during development is regulated at the level of transcription. Expression of the beta-minor globin gene in reticulocytes of adult normal mice is not maximal, however, because the levels of the beta-minor globin and its RNA are increased further in reticulocytes of thalassemic mice.
mesh_terms: D000375:Aging; D000483:Alleles; D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D005260:Female; D005333:Fetus; D005796:Genes; D005838:Genotype; D005865:Gestational Age; D005914:Globins / Q000235:genetics*; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000235:genetics; D006579:Heterozygote; D051379:Mice; D009693:Nucleic Acid Hybridization; D011247:Pregnancy; D012313:RNA / Q000302:isolation & purification; D012156:Reticulocytes / Q000378:metabolism; D013789:Thalassemia / Q000097:blood; D014158:Transcription, Genetic
chemical_list: D006454:Hemoglobins; D012313:RNA; D005914:Globins