Globin gene expression is regulated through nuclear factor erythroid-2 (NFE2) elements located in enhancer-like locus control regions positioned many kb upstream of alpha- and beta-gene clusters (summarized by Blank et al., 1997 [PubMed 9166829]). NFE2 DNA-binding activity consists of a heterodimer containing a ubiquitous small Maf protein (MafF, MIM 604877; MafG; or MafK, MIM 600197) and the tissue-restricted protein p45 NFE2 (MIM 601490). Both subunits are members of the activator protein-1-like superfamily of basic leucine zipper (bZIP) proteins (see MIM 165160).
