Cis-acting sequences regulating expression of the human alpha-globin cluster lie within constitutively open chromatin.

Journal article

Current models suggest that tissue-specific genes are arranged in discrete, independently controlled segments of chromatin referred to as regulatory domains. Transition from a closed to open chromatin structure may be an important step in the regulation of gene expression. To determine whether the human alpha-globin cluster, like the beta-globin cluster, lies within a discrete, erythroid-specific domain, we have examined the long-range genomic organization and chromatin structure around this region. The alpha genes lie adjacent to at least four widely expressed genes. The major alpha-globin regulatory element lies 40 kb away from the cluster within an intron of one of these genes. Therefore, unlike the beta cluster, cis-acting sequences controlling alpha gene expression are dispersed within a region of chromatin that is open in both erythroid and nonerythroid cells. This implies a difference in the hierarchical control of alpha- and beta-globin expression.

Authors: Vyas, P; Vickers, M; Simmons, D; Ayyub, H; Craddock, C

• Publication status: Published
• Journal: Cell
• Volume: 69
• Issue: 5
• Pages: 781-793
• Publication date: 1992-05-01
• DOI: 10.1016/0092-8674(92)90290-s
• EISSN: 1097-4172
• ISSN: 0092-8674
• Language: English
• Keywords: Globins; Chromatin; Animals; Gene Expression Regulation; Humans; Regulatory Sequences, Nucleic Acid; Introns; Tumor Cells, Cultured; Multigene Family; Repetitive Sequences, Nucleic Acid; Deoxyribonuclease I; Methylation; Blotting, Northern; Cell Line