Stochastic patterns in globin gene expression are established prior to transcriptional activation and are clonally inherited.
We have undertaken a detailed characterization of mouse globin gene expression patterns in the nucleus and cytoplasm of single erythroid cells. We demonstrate an imbalance of alpha- versus beta-globin expression in a significant proportion of cells both in nuclear transcription patterns and cytoplasmic mRNA levels. Clonal cell analysis showed these expression patterns to be clonally inherited, while analysis of a multicopy transgenic locus showed an all-or-none effect in the activation of all the genes in one locus. These data provide strong evidence for a stochastic basis of globin gene activation resulting in heritable all-or-none expression patterns.
de Krom
Mariken
M
Department of Cell Biology and Genetics, Faculty of Medicine, Erasmus University Rotterdam, PO Box 1738, 3000DR Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
van de Corput
Mariette
M
von Lindern
Marieke
M
Grosveld
Frank
F
Strouboulis
John
J
D000818:Animals; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000502:physiology; D002458:Cell Fractionation; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D005914:Globins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D022781:Hepatocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D051379:Mice; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D015533:Transcriptional Activation
D012333:RNA, Messenger; D005914:Globins