Globin gene expression in Hb Lepore-BAC transgenic mice.
Sloane-Stanley J., Roberts NA., Olivieri N., Weatherall DJ., Wood WG.
We generated five lines of transgenic mice carrying 1-3 copies of the Hb Lepore deltabeta fusion gene, in the context of a Bacterial Artificial Chromosome containing the whole human beta globin gene cluster. Normal developmental regulation of human genes occurred at levels approximating to those of endogenous genes. Deltabeta transgene expression became detectable during fetal life and rose to a mean level of 13.0% in adults, similar to that of humans. Low levels of human gamma chains were detectable as F cells in adult mice, but numbers did not increase after treatment with drugs that raise F cells in human subjects, even on a thalassaemic background.