This work deals with 3C (Chromosome Conformation Capture) analysis of the chicken alpha-globin gene domain in embryonic erythrocytes and lymphoid cells. Ligation products were quantitatively analyzed by real-time PCR with TaqMan probes. It was found that in lymphoid cells, where alpha-globin gene is not active, the domain has a relatively extended configuration. In embryonic erythrocytes that transcribe alpha(D) and alpha(A) genes, simultaneous interaction of several domain elements was revealed including the major regulatory element, the erythroid-specific DNase I hypersensitive site at a distance of 9 kb upstream from the alpha-globin gene cluster (-9 DHS), promoter of the housekeeping gene CGTHBA, the alpha(D)-globin gene promoter, and the erythroid-specific enhancer located after the alpha-globin gene cluster. We suppose that such interaction is necessary to provide for the active transcription status of the chicken alpha-globin gene domains in erythroid cells.