title: Analysis of vertebrate SCL loci identifies conserved enhancers.
abstract: The SCL gene encodes a highly conserved bHLH transcription factor with a pivotal role in hemopoiesis and vasculogenesis. We have sequenced and analyzed 320 kb of genomic DNA composing the SCL loci from human, mouse, and chicken. Long-range sequence comparisons demonstrated multiple peaks of human/mouse homology, a subset of which corresponded precisely with known SCL enhancers. Comparisons between mammalian and chicken sequences identified some, but not all, SCL enhancers. Moreover, one peak of human/mouse homology (+23 region), which did not correspond to a known enhancer, showed significant homology to an analogous region of the chicken SCL locus. A transgenic Xenopus reporter assay was established and demonstrated that the +23 region contained a new neural enhancer. This combination of long-range comparative sequence analysis with a high-throughput transgenic bioassay provides a powerful strategy for identifying and characterizing developmentally important enhancers.
authors.affiliation: University of Cambridge, Department of Haematology, MRC Centre, Hills Road, Cambridge CB2 2QH, UK.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Göttgens
authors.forename: L M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Barton
authors.forename: J G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Gilbert
authors.forename: A J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Bench
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Sanchez
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bahn
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mistry
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Grafham
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: McMurray
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Vaudin
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Amaya
authors.forename: D R
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Bentley
authors.forename: A R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Green
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Sinclair
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D030801:Animals, Genetically Modified; D001483:Base Sequence; D051792:Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Proteins; D002645:Chickens; D017124:Conserved Sequence; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D004742:Enhancer Elements, Genetic; D018257:Helix-Loop-Helix Motifs; D006801:Humans; D051379:Mice; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins; D012249:Rhombencephalon / Q000196:embryology; D017386:Sequence Homology, Amino Acid; D000073942:T-Cell Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia Protein 1; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics*; D014714:Vertebrates / Q000235:genetics*; D014981:Xenopus; D029867:Xenopus Proteins
chemical_list: D051792:Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Proteins; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins; D000073942:T-Cell Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia Protein 1; D014157:Transcription Factors; D029867:Xenopus Proteins; C489365:TAL1 protein, Xenopus; C489366:Tal1 protein, mouse; C067143:TAL1 protein, human