The nucleotide sequences of the untranslated 5' regions of human alpha- and beta-globin mRNAs.

The complete sequences of the untranslated 5' regions of human alpha- and beta-globin mRNAs were determined by sequence analysis of full-length cDNAs. The single-stranded cDNAs were digested with the restriction endonuclease Hae III, and the two 3'-terminal fragments of 75 and 132 nucleotides, complementary to the 5' termini of the alpha- and beta-globin mRNAs, respectively, were isolated and sequenced. Including the initiation codon AUG, the untranslated 5' regions of human alpha- and beta-globin mRNAs contain 41 and 54 nucleotides, respectively, and exhibit striking homologies with the corresponding sequences in the rabbit. Human alpha- and beta-globin mRNAs have five bases in the region of the initiation codon that may form base pairs with the 3' terminus of 18S rRNA. Stable secondary structures with hairpin loops can be constructed in the untranslated 5' regions.