β-Globin Enhancers Target Expression of a Heterologous Gene to Erythroid Tissues of Transgenic Mice

Abstract

To examine the role of human β-globin enhancers in tissue-specific and developmental regulation, a hybrid β-globin–simian virus 40 gene was analyzed in transgenic mice. A β-globin DNA fragment containing two previously defined enhancers stimulated transcription from the simian virus 40 promoter in a tissue- and stage-specific pattern similar to that of the normal β-globin gene. These results help to define the functions of β-globin regulatory elements and suggest an approach for targeted expression of heterologous genes in erythroid cells in vivo.