The chromatin structure of the human epsilon globin gene: nuclease hypersensitive sites correlate with multiple initiation sites of transcription

We have mapped sites in chromatin flanking the epsilon-globin gene in the K562 cell which are hypersensitive to digestion with DNAseI, micrococcal nuclease and S1 nuclease. Many of those in the 5' flanking region correspond to minor upstream transcriptional starts. However, one prominent site occurs upstream of the boundary of transcription; it maps to a region with an unusual DNA sequence. In baby hamster kidney cells stably transformed with recombinant DNA containing the human epsilon-globin gene and in Cos 7 cells transiently transfected with DNA containing the epsilon-globin gene, hypersensitive sites can be demonstrated.