Erythroid specific nuclear antigen and globin gene binding protein

Using the procedure of Bekhor and Mirell (Biochem, 18 , 609, 1979), we isolated a nonhistone protein fraction tightly bound to DNA which putatively has a role in globin gene regulation in chicken reticulocytes. This fraction was tested by gel electrophoresis and microcomplement fixation and appears by these criteria very similar to the chicken nuclear antigen previously identified in reticulocyte chromatin and structurally altered erythrocyte chromatin. This antigen is tissue and species specific (Pumo et al , Biochem. 19 , 2362, 1980).