Expression of a cloned Lepore globin gene.

Lepore globin is synthesized in markedly diminished amounts (approximately 10% to 15% of normal beta-globin) in human erythroid cells. To study the molecular mechanisms responsible for the diminished biosynthesis of Lepore globin, the Lepore-Boston gene was cloned from a charon phage DNA library and expressed in HeLa cells. Northern blotting and S1 nuclease analyses indicated that the Lepore gene produced less globin mRNA than a beta-gene and more than a delta-gene. The results indicate that expression of the Lepore-Boston gene in HeLa cells is reduced to an extent comparable to that seen in erythroid precursors in vivo. This indicates that the decrease in Lepore globin gene transcription is due to the delta-nucleotide sequences either in the 5' flanking region or within this gene.