An Erythroid-Specific, Developmental-Stage-Independent Enhancer Far Upstream of the Human "β -Like Globin" Genes

• Published in: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences - PNAS 1989-04, Vol.86 (8), p.2554-2558
• Main Authors: Dorothy Y. H. Tuan, Solomon, William B., London, Irving M., Lee, David P.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: 3T3 cells; Adults; Age Factors; Animals; Biological and medical sciences; Cricetinae; Enhancer elements; Enhancer Elements, Genetic; Erythrocytes - physiology; Erythroid cells; Erythropoiesis; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Gene Expression Regulation; Genes; Genes. Genome; Genomics; Globins - genetics; HeLa Cells; Humans; Hypersensitivity; K562 cells; Molecular and cellular biology; Molecular genetics; Plasmids; Restriction Mapping
• ISSN: 0027-8424; 1091-6490
• DOI: 10.1073/pnas.86.8.2554

We have identified an erythroid-specific enhancer element far upstream of the human "β -like globin" genes, at 10.2-11.0 kilobases 5′of the embryonic ε -globin gene, and thus at 53-54 kilobases 5′of the adult β -globin gene. It is capable of enhancing the expression of a cis-linked test gene by up to 300-fold. This enhancer element is apparently developmental-stage-independent, as it is functional at the embryonic and the adult developmental stages in erythroid cells that are expressing the respective β -like globin genes. The enhancer and globin promoter sequences work in synergy and are capable of conferring on a cis-linked gene the high transcriptional efficiency (enhancer function), erythroid specificity (enhancer and promoter functions), and developmental-stage specificity (promoter function) that are characteristic of the in vivo transcription of the β -like globin genes in erythroid cells.