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Natural deletions of the region upstream of the human alpha-globin gene cluster, together with expression studies in cell lines and transgenic mice, identified a single element (HS -40) as necessary and perhaps sufficient for high-level expression of the alpha-globin genes. A similar element occupies the corresponding position upstream of the mouse (m) alpha-globin genes (mHS -26) and was thought to have similar functional properties. We knocked out mHS -26 by homologous recombination and observed the surprising result that instead of the expected severe alpha-thalassemia phenotype, the mice had a mild disease. Transcription levels of the mouse genes were reduced by about 50%, but homozygotes were healthy, with normal hemoglobin levels and only mild decreases in mean corpuscular volume and mean corpuscular hemoglobin. These results may indicate differences in the regulation of the alpha-globin clusters in mice and humans or that additional cis-acting elements remain to be characterized in one or both clusters.

Original publication

DOI

10.1182/blood-2002-05-1409

Type

Journal article

Journal

Blood

Publication Date

15/11/2002

Volume

100

Pages

3450 - 3456

Keywords

Animals, Cell Line, Chromosome Deletion, Down-Regulation, Genes, Regulator, Globins, Humans, Mice, Mice, Knockout, Multigene Family, Mutagenesis, Phenotype, RNA, Messenger, alpha-Thalassemia