Cloning and sequence analysis of two embryonic beta-like globin cDNAs (y and z) of hamster

A cDNA library was prepared from poly(A) mRNA extracted from 9-day hamster-yolk-sac erythroid cells. Two clones containing inserts coding for embryonic beta-like z or y globin-chains were isolated. Their identity was confirmed by (a) translation of hybrid selected mRNAs and (b) nucleotide sequence analysis of the inserts and comparison to the embryonic beta-like globin genes of Balb/c mouse. Availability of sequences for embryonic and adult globin cDNAs will aid in investigations of the molecular mechanisms of the globin switch in hamster YSEC.