[Detection of complementary transcripts in intergenic region of the chicken α-globin gene domain].

Using strand-specific reverse transcription followed by Real Time PCR analysis we have characterized the transcription profile of the segment of chicken α-globin gene domain harboring embryonic gene π, adult gene αD and spacer region separating these genes. It has been demonstrated that in erythroid cells of adult lineage the spacer region is transcribed in both directions. These results suggest a possibility that switching of α-globin genes expression is controlled by RNA-interference mechanism.

Evolution of α- and ß-globin genes and their regulatory systems in light of the hypothesis of domain organization of the genome.

The α- and ß-globin gene domains are a traditional model for study of the domain organization of the eucaryotic genome because these genes encode hemoglobin, a physiologically important protein. The α-globin and ß-globin gene domains are organized in completely different ways, while the expression of globin genes is tightly coordinated, which makes it extremely interesting to study the origin of these genes and the evolution of their regulatory systems. In this review, the organization of the α- and ß-globin gene domains and their genomic environment in different taxonomic groups are comparatively analyzed. A new hypothesis of possible evolutionary pathways for segregated α- and ß-globin gene domains of warm-blooded animals is proposed.