Genome domains and domain regulatory elements

Gene activity regulation at the level of genome domains is considered with special emphasis on locus control regions (LCR), which are thought to act as dominant regulatory elements providing for the active state of tissue-specific gene domains. Detailed analysis was made of experimental data on the organization and function of mammalian beta-globin gene LCR. On recent evidence, this LCR is necessary for high-level expression of the globin genes, but not for the active state of the domain. These data are compared with earlier findings suggesting a key role of LCR in the organization of active genome domains. The boundaries of functional genome domains are also considered.