title: Nucleosomes are phased along the mouse beta-major globin gene in erythroid and nonerythroid cells.
abstract: We have used the chemical cleavage reagent methidiumpropyl-EDTA-Fe(II) to determine the location of the nucleosomes along the mouse beta-major globin gene in erythroid and nonerythroid cells. In mouse L cells, in which the globin gene is inactive, the nucleosomes are precisely positioned with respect to the underlying DNA sequence from positions -3000 to +1500 relative to the cap site. In uninduced and induced murine erythroleukemia cells, the same phasing persists but is interrupted from positions -200 to +500. This gap in the phased distribution of nucleosomes appears to be protected from MPE-Fe(II) digestion, and is bounded on both sides by hypersensitive sites. These results define at least two structural states for the globin gene: an inactive state in which the gene is covered with a continuous array of phased nucleosomes and an active state in which this array is disrupted over the 5' half of the structural gene.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Benezra
authors.forename: C R
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Cantor
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Axel
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004492:Edetic Acid / Q000031:analogs & derivatives; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000502:physiology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000502:physiology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D005914:Globins / Q000235:genetics*; D006412:Hematopoietic Stem Cells / Q000502:physiology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D051379:Mice; D009707:Nucleosomes / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D014158:Transcription, Genetic
chemical_list: D009707:Nucleosomes; C038200:methidiumpropyl-EDTA-iron(II); D005914:Globins; D004492:Edetic Acid