Restriction endonuclease mapping of globin genomic regions of HEL (human erythroleukemia) line

The restriction endonuclease map of the alpha and beta globin genomic region of the new human erythroleukemia line, HEL, was compared with that of normal human DNA. The HEL line, which produces mainly fetal (G gamma and A gamma) but no adult (delta and beta) globin chains, was shown to have the same pattern of DNA fragments as that of normal human DNA. This suggests that the selective expression of the gamma globin genes observed in HEL cells is not due to a major deletion or rearrangement in the epsilon-G gamma-A gamma-delta-beta gene complex. Thus, the HEL line provides a model for studying the control of globin developmental switching in cells with structurally intact globin gene regions.