Definition of 5' and 3' structural boundaries of the chromatin domain containing the ovalbumin multigene family.
Hen oviduct nuclei were subjected to pancreatic DNase I treatment under conditions known to preferentially degrade transcriptionally active genes (Weintraub, H., and Groudine, M. (1976) Science (Wash. D. C.) 93, 848-856). The ovalbumin gene, its structurally related genes, X and Y, and the spacer and flanking DNA were all found to exist in a DNase I-sensitive configuration. The DNase I-sensitive region was extended more than 20 kilobases beyond the 5' end of the X gene and approximately an equal distance beyond the 3' end of the ovalbumin gene before it became DNase I-resistant. The transition from a DNase I-sensitive to a -resistant conformation in oviduct chromatin occurred in a gradient fashion with 10 kilobases of DNA. Thus, ovalbumin and its related genes, X and Y, exist in a 100-kilobase DNase-sensitive domain in the oviduct tissue. In contrast, the entire domain was resistant to DNase I in spleen, liver, and erythrocyte nuclei. When the transcription of ovalbumin, X, and Y genes was eliminated by the withdrawal of hormone from estrogen-stimulated chicks, the entire domain remained in a DNase I-sensitive configuration. We conclude that DNase I-sensitive domains may provide the structural capability for gene expression and appear to be a result of the differentiation process since they are cell-specific and contain potentially expressible genes of that cell type. Repetitive sequences within this domain have been mapped and the possible relationship of these repetitive sequences to the DNase I-sensitive structure is discussed.
D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D002645:Chickens; D002843:Chromatin / Q000378:metabolism*; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D004262:DNA Restriction Enzymes / Q000378:metabolism; D003850:Deoxyribonuclease I; D003851:Deoxyribonucleases / Q000378:metabolism; D004720:Endonucleases / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D005796:Genes; D007700:Kinetics; D010047:Ovalbumin / Q000235:genetics*; D010057:Oviducts / Q000378:metabolism*; D012091:Repetitive Sequences, Nucleic Acid; D014158:Transcription, Genetic
D002843:Chromatin; D010047:Ovalbumin; D003851:Deoxyribonucleases; D004720:Endonucleases; D004262:DNA Restriction Enzymes; D003850:Deoxyribonuclease I