LOCALIZATION AND CHARACTERIZATION OF THE MOUSE ALPHA-GLOBIN LOCUS-CONTROL REGION

The control of the expression of the alpha- and beta-globin gene clust ers is effected by sequences called locus control regions (LCRs). Deta iled analysis of these elements is therefore essential to the understa nding of the complex mechanisms of globin gene regulation. In this pap er we describe the characterization of the mouse alpha-globin LCR. Thi s element is localized 26 kb upstream of the mouse embryonic globin ge ne (Hba-x) and is highly conserved at the protein binding sites. Howev er, three of four CACC boxes and one GATA-1 binding site, identified i n the human alpha-LCR, are not conserved in the mouse. Interestingly, we identified a highly conserved putative transcription factor binding sequence (AAAGG) that may play an important role in LCR function. The identification of the mouse alpha-LCR makes it now possible to analyz e this element in its natural environment and will certainly contribut e to the understanding of the a-globin gene expression. (C) 1994 Acade mic Press, Inc.