Human embryonic zeta-globin gene expression in mouse-human hybrid erythroid cell lines.

Abstract

The human alpha-globin-like embryonic zeta-globin chains are present in abundance during the first 5 to 6 weeks of gestation. Subsequently, zeta-globin chains are present in fetal blood at a very low level, which is supplanted by the expression of alpha-globin chains. Adult individuals who are carriers of the (--SEA/) alpha-thalassemia deletion, in contrast to normal adults, have low levels of embryonic zeta-globin chains in their circulating erythrocytes. In this investigation, we constructed stable mouse-human hybrid cells with murine erythroleukemia cells bearing human chromosome 16, with either the normal alpha-globin gene cluster (alpha alpha/) or the (--SEA/) type of alpha-thalassemia deletion. The results on the human zeta-globin gene expression in these hybrid cells indicate that murine adult erythroid transcription factors can induce the expression of human embryonic zeta-globin gene is cis to the (--SEA/) deletion, in parallel with the endogenous mouse alpha-globin gene expression. These data also show the importance of the DNA sequences within the (--SEA) deletion in regulating the expression of zeta-globin gene in cis during normal human hemoglobin ontogeny.

• Authors: H Y Luo, A B Deisseroth, D H Chui
• Journal: Blood (Blood) Vol. 86 Issue 3 Pg. 1212-7 (Aug 01 1995) ISSN: 0006-4971 [Print] United States
• PMID: 7620174 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't, Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.)

Chemical References

• RNA, Messenger
• Globins

Topics

• Animals
• Erythroid Precursor Cells (physiology)
• Gene Expression
• Globins (genetics)
• Humans
• Hybrid Cells
• Mice
• RNA, Messenger (genetics)
• Regulatory Sequences, Nucleic Acid
• Sequence Deletion