Mutational analysis of the chicken beta-globin enhancer reveals two positive-acting domains

We report a mutational analysis of the chicken beta-globin enhancer, using transient expression in primary embryonic erythrocytes. A series of 27 scanning mutants differing only by consecutive 4-base substitutions was tested. Previous experiments, using protection from DNase I digestion, demonstrated four regions in the enhancer that bind factors. Mutations in two of the four regions (denoted I and III) have no effect on enhancer activity. The other two regions (II and IV) mediate all of the positive-acting activity. Region II appears to consist of two subregions, mutation in either of which leads to the same loss in activity as mutation of both. Like region II, mutation of either half of region IV results in reduced enhancer activity. However, in contrast to region II, mutation of both halves of region IV results in more loss of enhancer activity than either single mutation. These data suggest that the half-sites in region II must interact in order to cause enhancement, whereas the half-sites in region IV act independently. Triplications of regions II or IV are able to enhance to a similar degree as the parental enhancer, but single copies of regions II or IV enhance only weakly. Thus, as measured by transient expression in embryonic erythrocytes, the beta-globin enhancer may involve the action of as few as three DNA-binding proteins acting at two sites.