Abstract
The human ɛ-globin gene has multiple transcription initiation sites located far upstream of the major cap site. These alternative promoters are located within regions of erythroid specific DNAsel hypersensitivity. There is also a prominent DNAsel hypersensitive site 6.5 kb upstream of the major cap site which corresponds to an unusual nucleotide sequence. The upstream promoters can be regulated independently of the major cap site in response to a number of cis & trans controls. Several lines of evidence suggest that the upstream promoters are transcribed early in differentiation prior to activation of the major cap site. The switch to cap site transcription occurs in response to embryonic erythroid trans factors. The upstream promoter located 4.5 kb upstream of the major cap site is located within a region which reduces transcription of the ɛ-globin cap site by approximately 10-fold. A fragment containing the ɛ-globin -200 cap site can in certain circumstances act as a positive regulator of transcription. Possible mechanisms by which these distant regulatory sequences exert their effect are discussed.
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© 1986 Plenum Press, New York
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Allan, M., Montague, P., Grindlay, G.J., Jing-de, Z., Paul, J. (1986). Multiple Control Elements Associated with the Human ε-Globin Gene. In: Clayton, R.M., Truman, D.E.S. (eds) Coordinated Regulation of Gene Expression. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4613-2245-0_8
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4613-2245-0_8
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