A Silencer Element from the α-Globin Gene Inhibits Expression of β-Like Genes

Abstract

We have studied the cis and trans interactions of the α- and β-globin genes in a transient expression system. We found that the α-globin gene inhibited β-globin expression in cis but not in trans. The silencer element responsible for this inhibition was localized to a 259-base-pair fragment at the 5′ end of the α-globin gene.