An enhancer-blocking element between α and δ gene segments within the human T cell receptor α/δ locus

T cell receptor (TCR) α and δ gene segments are organized within a single genetic locus but are differentially regulated during T cell development. An enhancer-blocking element (BEAD-1, for blocking element alpha/delta 1) was localized to a 2.0-kb region 3′ of TCR δ gene segments and 5′ of TCR α joining gene segments within this locus. BEAD-1 blocked the ability of the TCR δ enhancer (E(δ)) to activate a promoter when located between the two in a chromatin-integrated construct. We propose that BEAD-1 functions as a boundary that separates the TCR α/δ locus into distinct regulatory domains controlled by E(δ) and the TCR α enhancer, and that it prevents E(δ) from opening the chromatin of the TCR α joining gene segments for VDJ recombination at an early stage of T cell development.