Nucleic Acids Research, 1985, Vol. 13, No. 17 6125-6136
© 1985
Articles |
Tissue specific transcription of the human
-globin gene following transfection into the embryonic erythroid cell line K562
The Beatson Institute for Cancer Research, Garscube Estate Switchback Road, Glasgow G61 1BD, UK *Departments of Human Genetics and Medicine, Columbia University, College of Surgeons 701 West 168th Street, New York, NY 10032, USA
Received June 4, 1985. Revised August 6, 1985. Accepted August 6, 1985.
We have introduced a plasmid containing the human
-globin gene either stably or transiently into a number of erythroid or non-erythroid cell lines, and analysed the accuracy and efficiency of transcription. In non-erythroid cells (or in mouse erythroleukaemia (MEL) cells in which adult but not embryonic globin genes are expressed) transcription of the
-globin gene occurs mainly from a site 200 bp upstream of the major cap site (the 200 cap site). In the human K562 cell line, in which the endogenous
-globin gene is transcribed at high levels, transcription initiation from the introduced gene occurs mainly from the major cap site. Transcriptional activity of the
-globin gene introduced into K562 cells is quantitatively similar to that of the endogenous gene. This suggests the presence (or absence) in K562 cells of factor(s) which activate (or repress) the
-globin gene in a tissue specific manner.