Transcriptional control of the alpha 1(I) collagen gene involves orientation- and position-specific intronic sequences.

The 3' half of the first intron of the human alpha 1(I) collagen gene interacts with the promoter to regulate transcription. We questioned whether this intronic sequence also exerted its effect when placed 5' to the promoter. In transient transfection assays using several cell lines, little or no stimulation of alpha 1(I)-driven chloroamphenicol acetyltransferase transcription was observed. We conclude that transcriptional control of the alpha 1(I) gene is dependent on a complex series of interactions that require both orientation and position specificity of the intronic segment.