Expression of erythroid-specific genes and genes involved in heme biosynthesis and catabolism.

Total RNA was extracted from the wild-type and Alas2-null definitive erythroblasts or TER119⁺ bone marrow erythroid cells, and 2 μg total RNA was reverse transcribed. Then, target genes were amplified by PCR with a set of specific primers using 1 μL cDNA solution as a template. (A) Erythroid-specific genes. (B) Genes involved in heme biosynthesis, catabolism, and iron metabolism. Although the Alas2 gene is both an erythroid-specific and a heme pathway gene, its expression is shown in panel B.