Cloning and complete nucleotide sequence of human 5'-alpha-globin gene

We have cloned one of the two human alpha-globin genes and report its complete nucleotide sequence. The gene is 832 base pairs (bp) long from the 5'-cap site to the 3'-polyadenylylation site. The amino acid coding sequences are separated into three segments (exons) by two short (117 and 140 bp) intervening sequences. Highly conserved regions are identified in the 5'-flanking region, intron-exon junctions, and 3' noncoding regions that may have functional significance.