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The vitellogenin and apoVLDLII yolk protein genes of chicken are transcribed in the liver upon estrogenization. To get information on putative regulatory elements, we compared more than 2 kb of their 5' flanking DNA sequences. Common sequence motifs were found in regions exhibiting estrogen-induced changes in chromatin structure. Stretches of alternating pyrimidines and purines of about 30-nucleotides long are present at roughly similar positions. A distinct box of sequence homology in the chicken genes also appears to be present at a similar position in front of the vitellogenin genes of Xenopus laevis, but is absent from the estrogen-responsive egg-white protein genes expressed in the oviduct. In front of the vitellogenin (position -595) and the VLDLII gene (position -548), a DNA element of about 300 base-pairs was found, which possesses structural characteristics of a mobile genetic element and bears homology to the transposon-like Vi element of Xenopus laevis.

We have analyzed a repetitive DNA sequence found in the 3'-flanking region of the chicken vitellogenin gene. By its sequence, the repetitive DNA has been identified as a hitherto unreported member of the chicken CR1 family of repetitive elements. The CR1 sequence displays the structural characteristics of a long terminal repeat located at the 3' end of an avian retrovirus. The CR1 element lies 2.2 kb downstream of the vitellogenin gene and 'points' away from the gene rather than toward it. In this respect, this element differs from other CR1 repeats. The CR1 element is embedded in a region showing changes in chromatin structure implying a potential role for this sequence in determining the structural state of the local chromatin.