The 'β-like-globin' gene domain in human erythroid cells

Abstract

We have mapped the distribution of the major and minor DNase I-hypersensitive sites in the human 'β-like-globin' gene domain. The minor DNase I-hypersensitive sites map close to the 5' end of each of the β-like-globin genes. Their presence is specifically associated with the transcription of the immediate downstream β-like-globin genes. The major DNase I-hypersensitive sites map in what appear to be the 5' and 3' boundary areas of the human β-like-globin gene domain, a region estimated to span at least 90 kilobases of DNA. These major sites are present in various erythroid cells, which express predominantly either the embryonic, the fetal, or the adult β-like-globin genes, and seem to be involved in defining the active β-like-globin gene domain in cells of erythroid lineage. The four major DNase I-hypersensitive sites in the 5' boundary area, when correlated with sequencing data, are shown to be located in DNA regions containing enhancer core-like sequences and alternating purine and pyrimidine bases.