GenBank Files Research Articles

The DNA deletion in an Indian delta beta-thalassaemia begins one kilobase from the A gamma globin gene and ends in an L1 repetitive sequence.

High fetal haemoglobin levels of 5-15% are present in adult heterozygotes for delta beta-thalassaemia as the result of large deletions of DNA. We have cloned DNA spanning the deletion breakpoint for a new Indian delta beta-thalassaemia associated with mild anaemia. The 5' breakpoint is at 42151 of GenBank file HUMHBB, which is about 1 kb 3' of the A gamma globin gene poly A site at 41003. On the 3' side of the breakpoint, the sequence is homologous to L1 (KpnI) repetitive DNA located 3.6-10 kb 3' of the beta-globin gene: Indian delta beta-thalassaemia DNA is 74% homologous to the inverted complement of HUMHBB from 69849 to 70020, followed by a region 78% homologous to the direct sequence of HUMHBB from 70534 to 71010. The precise location of the 3' endpoint of this deletion has not been determined, but it is within L1 sequences located more than 10 kb 3' of the beta-globin gene.

An access interface for the MS-DOS diskette format of GenBank(R), a gene sequence database

An interface program has been developed for users of MS-DOS computers and the GenBank(R) gene sequence files in their diskette format. With the program a user is able to produce keyword, author and entry name listings of GenBank items or to select GenBank sequences for viewing, printing or decoding. The decode option uncompresses sequence data and yields a character file which has the format used on GenBank magnetic tapes. Program options are chosen by selecting items from command menus. While the program is designed primarily for hard disk operation, it also allows users of diskette-based computers to work with GenBank files.