Characterization of DNASE I hypersensitive sites in the 120kb 5' to the CFTR gene.

The chromatin structure of 120kb of genomic DNA 5' to the CFTR gene has been analysed in a number of CFTR expressing and non-expressing cell types, including primary genital duct epithelial cells. Novel DNAse I hypersensitive sites have been observed at -79.5kb and -20.5kb 5' to the ATG translation start codon of the CFTR coding sequence. Neither of these sites appears to show strong correlation with CFTR expression in the cell types investigated, hence they are unlikely to reflect the sites of binding of the major CFTR tissue specific regulator(s). However, they may still play an important part in the complex series of events involved in the regulation of CFTR transcription.