The duplicated CCAAT box is required for gamma gene expression. We report h
ere that the transcriptional factor NF-Y is recruited to the duplicated CCA
AT box in vivo. A mutation of the duplicated CCAAT box that severely disrup
ts the NF-Y binding also reduces the accessibility level of the gamma gene
promoter, affects the assembly of basal transcriptional machinery, and incr
eases the recruitment of GATA-1 to the locus central region (LCR) and the p
roximal promoter and the recruitment of transcription cofactor CBP/p300 to
the LCR. These findings suggest that recruitment of NF-Y to the duplicated
CCAAT box plays a role in the chromatin opening of the gamma gene promoter
as well as in the communication between the gamma gene promoter and the LCR
.