Interaction of α-thalassemia genes with each other and with HbC in an American black family

The relative rates of in vitro synthesis of hemoglobin chains have been studied in an American black family in which the mother is doubly heterozygous for alpha-thalassemia and HbC and the father is heterozygous for alpha-thalassemia. The alpha/non-alpha synthetic ratio was equally unbalanced in both the bone marrow and the peripheral blood of the mother. Although HbC comprised 35% of her hemoglobin (compared to 42.2 +/- 2.2 in individuals with HbC trait and balanced globin synthesis), synthetic data showed that the newly synthesized beta C chain was 44% of the total newly synthesized beta chains. Isolated membranes contained more newly synthesized beta C than beta A chains. Three of the offspring were within the normal range, and the remaining three had alpha-thalassemia. There were two spontaneous abortions during the second trimester of pregnancy. Hydrops fetalis did not occur, and none of the children had HbH disease or HbC trait.     

Haemoglobin synthesis in 28 obligatory cases for α-thalassemia traits

Summary In the Far East two types of -thalassemia genes, namely -thalassemia₁ (-thal₁) and -thalassemia₂ (-thal₂) exist. Definite diagnosis of the -thal₁ and -thal₂ traits is very difficult because their hematological findings are minimally abnormal or normal. This study attempts to characterize the heterozygotes by hemoglobin chain synthesis in reticulocytes from obligatory cases of the -thal₁ and -thal₂ traits. Twelve parents of babies with hemoglobin Bart's hydrops fetalis (obligatory -thal₁ trait) had the mean total radioactivity / ratio of 0.76±SD 0.04, while that of 7 normal controls was 1.06±SD 0.04. The / globin chain ratios of 16 cases, who were either parents or offspring of patients with hemoglobin H disease, were found to segregate into 2 groups, i.e. 0.78±SD 0.03 (10 cases) and 0.92±SD 0.03 (6 cases), probably representing the -thal₁ and -thal₂ traits respectively. The hematological data of the first group showed definite hypochromic microcytic red cells, similar to thoseof the parents of the hydrops. The second group had significantly higher mean corpuscular hemoglobin than the first group, compatible with -thal₂ trait. Our globin chain synthesis study thus appears to be capable of discriminating normal, -thal₁ and -thal₂ traits.A preliminary report of the results was presented at the XV Congress of the International Society of Haematology, Israel, September, 1974.     

Patterns of hemoglobin assembly in reticulocytes of sickle cell trait individuals.

Venous blood was obtained from five sickle cell trait donors with relatively high hemoglobin S concentrations (40% of total hemoglobin) and five donors with unusually low hemoglobin S concentrations (25 to 30%). A fraction of cells with 15 to 20% reticulocytes was isolated from the blood and incubated with [3H]leucine in a medium supporting protein synthesis for various times from 1.25 to 60 min. Previous studies showed an imbalance in globin chain synthesis in reticulocytes of "low hemoglobin S" donors which suggested the presence of an alpha-thalassemia gene; reticulocytes of "high hemoglobin S" donors had balanced globin chain synthesis (DeSimone, J., Kleve, L., Longley, M.A., and Shaeffer, J. (1974) Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. 59, 564-569). In the present study the soluble phase of the 3H-labeled reticulocytes was examined by electrophoresis on strips of cellulose acetate. The tetramer hemoglobins A and S were separated from each other and from a small pool of free, newly synthesized alpha and beta chains. Kinetics of labeling studies showed that the free alpha and beta chains were intermediates in tetramer hemoglobin assembly. The distribution of radioactivity between the alpha and beta chains of each of the electrophoretically isolated components were determined by separation of their globin chains on CM-cellulose columns. After 5 min of 3H-labeling of the reticulocytes from donors with 40% hemoglobin S the ratio of newly synthesized alpha chains to beta chains in the tetramer hemoglobins A and S ranged from 0.37 to 0.58. This ratio increased with longer labeling times. Almost all of the radioactivity of the free chain intermediates was in the alpha chain. These results confirmed the presence of a significant pool of newly synthesized alpha chains and a normal pattern of hemoglobin assembly in which initially unlabeled alpha chains combined with labeled beta chains when the cells were exposed to [3H]leucine. Conversely, in the reticulocytes of donors with 25 to 30% hemoglobin S the ratio of newly synthesized alpha chains to beta chains in the completed hemoglobins A and S ranged from 0.96 to 1.37 and remained unchanged throughout the 3H-labelling period. The radioactivity of the free alpha chain pool was substantially less that the total radioactivity of the betaA and betaS chain pools. These results confirmed the existence of a decreased pool size of soluble alpha chain intermediates and a pattern of hemoglobin assembly consistent with the presence of the alpha-thalassemia gene.     

Hemoglobin synthesis studies of a family with α-thalassemia trait and sickle cell trait

The ratio of total globin alpha to beta chain synthesis was determined in reticulocytes isolated from the blood of the members of a black family, some of whom had sickle cell trait with low blood HbS concentrations (25-30%). The results support the hypothesis that sickle cell trait individuals with low HbS concentrations also carry a gene for alpha-thalassemia.     

beta+ -Thalassemia intermedia. Genetic and biochemical study of a family including 3 cases

3 cases of thalassemia intermedia have been found in the same family. The parents are not consanguineous but both come from the same town of Calabria (Italia). The mother is a heterozygote for beta-thalassemia, as well as the father whose globin chain synthesis is nevertheless balanced, thus suggesting an association with alpha-thalassemia. This hypothesis is confirmed by the fact that one of the offspring shows the typical characteristics of alpha-thalassemia heterozygosity. The 3 subjects with thalassemia intermedia are synthesizing the beta-globin chain in a proportion higher than that expected from the level of Hb A in peripheral blood. In 2 of them, the globin chain biosynthetic ratio measured in the blood reticulocytes is not significantly different from that usually observed in thalassemia major of either the beta o or beta+ type. In the third subject the globin chain synthesis is slightly less unbalanced probably because an alpha-thalassemia is also present. This suggests that factors other than a lesser imbalance in globin chain synthesis are involved in the occurrence of thalassemia intermedia. One of these factors could be a better survival of cells richer in Hb F than in Hb A, since these cells must have a lesser excess of alpha-chains.     

应用实时定量RT-PCR技术检测b地中海贫血 珠蛋白基因的表达

为了定量检测 b 地中海贫血(b 地贫)的 a、b 和γ珠蛋白基因表达水平, 提取正常成人对照组、正常胎儿对照组和b 地贫患者组组成的样本 DNA,采用反向点杂交法（RDB）分析b 地贫各种突变类型;提取样本RNA用于进行针对a、b 和γ珠蛋白基因的荧光实时定量RT-PCR（FQ RT-PCR）。根据FQ RT-PCR原理,设计合成分别对应于a、b 和γ珠蛋白基因的3对引物和3条荧光探针,FQ RT-PCR在ABI 7700系统进行。用SPSS 10.0对实验数据进行统计学分析,分别计算正常对照组 (bA/bA,aa/aa),脐带血组(bA/bA,aa/aa),轻型b 地贫组(bT/bA,aa/aa),重型b地贫组(bT/bT,aa/aa)的a、b 和γmRNA比值,其中a/b分别为4.62±1.20、7.81±2.89、13.51±5.12、188.24±374.04;a/(b +γ)分别为4.43±1.17、0.56±0.49、9.62±4.37、2.14±1.58;γ/(b+γ) 分别为0.04±0.03、0.92±0.06、0.28±0.18、0.95±0.04。由于组与组之间均值变异范围较大,将其进行对数转换后再进行方差分析。结果表明： a/b与a/(b+γ)在所有组与组之间均有显著性差异。γ/(b+γ)除了在脐带血组和重型b地贫组之间无显著性差异外,在其他组与组之间均有显著性差异。实验说明,人类b珠蛋白基因的表达水平从正常对照组到重型b地贫组急剧下降且以重型b地贫组为最低;相反γ珠蛋白基因表达却明显升高,以重型b地贫组为最高。与正常成人对照组相比,胎儿期b mRNA水平较低但γmRNA 水平较高。因此,正常个体不同时期和不同类型b 地贫之间a、b与γ珠蛋白基因表达不同而且互相影响。 Abstract：whole blood samples were collected from 100 normal healthy adults, from umbilical cord of 33 newborn infants, 111 individuals with b-thalassemia minor (bT/bA,aa/aa) and 39 with b-thalassemia major (bT/bT,aa/aa). Prior to quantitative analysis of globin gene expression, DNA was extracted from all blood samples and used for b-thalassemia genotype analysis. Different types of b globin gene mutations were analyzed using reverse dot blotting (RDB) method. Total RNA were extracted and subjected to real-time RT-PCR for quantitative measurement of a, b andγglobin mRNA using three sets of primers and fluorescent-labeled probes, designed according to the sequences of a, b andγhuman globin gene. Real-time RT-PCR was performed in ABI 7700 system. Following the real-time RT-PCR, the mean values of a, b andγglobin mRNA were calculated and the ratios of a/b, a/(b + γ) andγ/(b + γ) were determined to characterize the relative expression levels of different globin genes among normal adult, infant, b-thalassemia minor and b-thalassemia major patients. The resultant data were analyzed using SPSS 10.0 software to determine statistical significance of human globin gene expression among normal controls and b-thalassemia patients. Due to vast variations of the mean globin gene mRNA levels among different groups, log conversion of a/b + 1, a/(b + γ) + 1 andγ/(b + γ) +1 was used for statistical analyses and intergroup comparison. The a/b globin gene mRNA ratios were determined to be 4.62±1.20, 7.81±2.89, 13.51±5.12, and 188.24±374.04 for normal healthy adult (bA/bA,aa/aa), infant (bA/bA,aa/aa), b- thalassemia minor (bT/bA,aa/aa) and b-thalassemia major(bT/bT,aa/aa) respectively. The a/(b+γ) ratios were 4.43±1.17, 0.56±0.49, 9.62±4.37, and 2.14±1.58 for normal healthy adult (bA/bA,aa/aa), infant (bA/bA,aa/aa), b- thalassemia minor (bT/bA,aa/aa) and b- thalassemia major(bT/bT,aa/aa) respectively. Theγ/(b+γ) ratios were 0.04±0.03, 0.92±0.06, 0.28±0.18, and 0.95±0.04 for normal healthy adult (bA/bA,aa/aa), infant (bA/bA,aa/aa), b- thalassemia minor (bT/bA,aa/aa) and b- thalassemia major(bT/bT,aa/aa) respectively. Following statistical analyses, the a/b and a/(b+γ) globin gene mRNA ratios were significantly different among four different groups (normal adult, normal infant, b- thalassemia minor and b- thalassemia major). The γ/(b + γ) globin gene mRNA ratio was significantly different among all groups except for between infant and b- thalassemia major patients. Human b globin gene mRNA levels decrease progressively and dramatically from normal adults to b-thalassemia patients with b-thalassemia major having the lowest levels. On the other hand, the γglobin gene mRNA levels increase progressively from normal adult to b-thalassemia patients with b-thalassemia major having the highest levels. Infants have relatively lower levels of b but higher levels of γglobin gene mRNA as compared to those in normal adults. Thus, the relative expression levels of a, b or γglobin genes varied but inter-related among different ages of normal individuals and different b-thalassemia genotypes.     

Increased susceptibility of malaria-infected variant erythrocytes to the mononuclear phagocyte system

The interactions of the mononuclear phagocyte system with Plasmodium falciparum-infected genetically variant erythrocytes may result in a significant protection for the host. Infected hemoglobin (Hb) EE and Hb EA erythrocytes are more susceptible to phagocytosis by monocytes than are infected Hb AA erythrocytes. The increased susceptibility to phagocytosis of infected erythrocytes was also found for a number of genetic variants involving the alpha-globin chain, namely, alpha-thal 1 trait (--/alpha alpha), alpha-thal 2 trait (-alpha/alpha alpha), Hb H (--/-alpha), Hb H/Hb Constant Spring (CS) (--/alpha CS alpha), Hb CS trait, and homozygous Hb CS erythrocytes. In addition, oxidative damage from hydrogen peroxide, produced in simulation of macrophages, led to much more effective killing of parasites in glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD)-deficient erythrocytes than in normal ones. Parasites infecting Hb H/Hb CS also showed an enhanced sensitivity to hydrogen peroxide.     

Hematological, protein electrophoresis and cholinesterase values of free-living nestling peregrine falcons in Spain

Protein electrophoresis, hematological and cholinesterase values were determined in 32 nestling free-living peregrine falcons (Falco peregrinus) (15- to 27-days-old) in order to establish normal reference values for this population. The following values (mean +/- SD) were observed: prealbumin 0.31 +/- 0.04 g/dl, albumin 1.25 +/- 0.06 g/dl, alpha1 and alpha2-globulin 0.23 +/- 0.02 and 0.16 +/- 0.02 g/dl respectively, beta-globulin 1.02 +/- 0.05 g/dl, gamma-globulin 0.060 +/- 0.08 g/dl, total protein 3.79 +/- 0.18 g/dl, 21.26 +/- 1.30 white blood cells/microl (1 x 10(3)), 2.17 +/- 0.07 red blood cells/microl (1 x 10(6)), packed cell volume 37.58 +/- 0.82%, hemoglobin 20.96 +/- 0.29 g/dl, heterophils 61.14 +/- 2.50% and cholinesterase 1,184 +/- 75 IU/L. There were no difference in any of these parameters among males and females. The hematological values obtained could be considered as representative values in free-living nestling peregrine falcons.     

Abnormal hemoglobin synthesis in some leukemic patients.

Hemoglobin chain synthesis during leukemic processes has been studied on patients having fetal hemoglobin. All cases showed the following abnormalities : (1) a relatively increased synthesis of the beta chain ; (2) an important increase of the free dimeric precursors pool, with, most of the time, a predominance of alpha chain. If the first point suggests an alpha-thalassemia feature, the presence of free alpha chains shows evidence for a more complex mechanism not only due to a decrease of messenger RNA. The hypothesis of a clonal disorder could neither be demonstrated nor ruled out. The observed abnormalities could be due to a defect in a alpha chain depending regulation mechanism.     

Binding reaction of hemin to globin

Binding of hemin to globin was studied in the presence of 25 mM caffeine by measuring CD and optical absorption changes in the Soret region. CD and optical absorption spectra after mixing equimolar amounts of hemin and globin were the same as those of ferric hemoglobin. In contrast, addition of excess globin to hemin formed a complex that was distinguishable from ferric hemoglobin in terms of the CD and optical absorption spectra. By comparing the spectra of the complex with those of various hemoglobin derivatives, it was concluded that the complex was globin which carried a hemin exclusively on the alpha chain. This means that the alpha chain of the globin molecule has a greater affinity for hemin than the beta chain, as observed by other investigators using hemin-cyanide. The rate of binding of hemin to globin was estimated by the use of CD and optical absorption stopped-flow apparatus. The rate of hemin binding to the alpha chain of globin was obtained by mixing hemin and excess globin, and that to the beta chain was obtained by mixing equimolar concentrations of hemin and globin. The results showed that hemin was bound to the alpha chain in the globin molecule to form a transient intermediate, followed by its transformation into another intermediate, the transformation was the rate-limiting step, and the beta chain in the globin molecule had a greater affinity for hemin after hemin binding to the alpha chain than before.     

Globin proteins of the normal and anemic duck

The red blood cells of normal adult ducks contain two main hemoglobins. The most abundant type, HbA, comprises approximately 80% of the total, with the remaining 20% being made up of HbD. An attempt was made to determine whether during hemolytic anemia a special alpha globin chain (alpha s) replaces the alpha chain of HbA found in normal animals. This special stress alpha globin, whose existence has been seriously questioned, was originally postulated to explain the sequence discrepancies obtained between alpha chains of normal and anemic chickens and ducks. Using gel electrophoresis, isoelectric focusing, and HPLC peptide mapping techniques no qualitative differences between the alpha A globins of normal and anemic animals were found. The nature of the beta globin chains present in adult ducks has also never been rigorously established. In this work, a variety of techniques, including HPLC, gel electrophoresis, and microcolumn amino acid analysis, were used to examine the beta chains from each hemoglobin. Using these methods, no differences were found between the beta globin chains of the two hemoglobins.     

The primary structure of the hemoglobins of the adult jaguar (Panthera onco, Carnivora)

The primary structure of the hemoglobins from Jaguar (Panthera onco) are presented. Electrophoretic separations without and with a dissociating agent revealed the presence of two hemoglobin components, alpha 2 beta I2 and alpha 2 beta II2. The separation of the hemoglobin components was achieved by ion-exchange chromatography. The globin chains were separated by ion-exchange chromatography and also by reversed phase HPLC. The amino-acid sequences of the native chains and peptides were determined by liquid-phase and gas-phase sequencing. N-Acetylserine was detected by FAB-mass spectroscopy as N-terminal group of the beta I chain. The sequences are compared with that of human hemoglobin (Hb A).     

Effect of polyamines on hemoglobin and globin chain synthesis

Exposure of reticulocytes to 25 mM spermidine and spermine stimulates the incorporation of 14C leucine into hemoglobin and globin polypeptide chains. These two polyamines stimulate beta chain synthesis to a greater extent than they stimulate alpha chain synthesis, thus resulting in a decreased synthetic alpha/beta globin ratio. Because of the low permeability of the red cell membrane to these polycations, less than 1.0% of extracellular spermidine and spermine accumulate within the erythrocyte, thus these effects occur at intracellular polyamine levels that are physiological. Putrescine progressively decreases hemoglobin synthesis at extracellular concentrations greater than 10 mM without affecting the synthetic alpha/beta ratio. These findings suggest a role for polyamines in the fine tuning of the alpha/beta globin ratio at the translational level.     

Interaction between the synthesis of alpha and beta globin.

We have examined the relationship between alpha and beta globin chain syntheses by utilizing the distribution of isoleucyl residues in rabbit hemoglobin. The alpha globin chain contains three isoleucyl residues while the beta chain of certain rabbits contains no isoleucine. O-Methyl-L-threonine, an isoleucine isostere, inhibits incorporation of radiolabeled amino acids into alpha chains in rabbit reticulocytes. When alpha chain synthesis is inhibited by 50-85%, beta synthesis is stimulated by 15-50%. The excess labeled beta chains are not distinguishable from authentic beta chains by any of the following criteria: (a) carboxymethyl cellulose chromatography in sodium phosphate-urea buffers, (b) electrophoresis on polyacrylamide gels containing sodium dodecyl sulfate, and (c) electrophoresis of methionine-containing tryptic peptides. The stimulation of beta synthesis continues after the pool of excess alpha chains has been exhausted by preincubation with O-methyl-L-threonine. The stimulation does not occur, however, when 1 mM 2-mercaptoethanol is added to the incubation medium or when the cells are excessively diluted in the incubation mixture. The rates of beta chain initiation and elongation during stimulation have been compared to the rates during normal synthesis. Although both rates are increased, the rate of elongation increases more than initiation, suggesting that initiation is the rate-limiting step in increased beta chain production. The stimulation of beta synthesis when alpha synthesis is inhibited is interpreted as resulting from relief of competition between alpha and beta mRNAs for limiting components of the protein synthetic apparatus.     

Sites of modification of hemospan, a poly(ethylene glycol)-modified human hemoglobin for use as an oxygen therapeutic

Hemospan is an acellular hemoglobin-based oxygen therapeutic in clinical trials in Europe and the United States. The product is prepared by site-specific conjugation of maleimide-activated poly(ethylene) glycol (PEG, MW approximately 5500) to human oxyhemoglobin through maleimidation reactions either (1) directly to reactive Cys thiols or (2) at surface Lys groups following thiolation using 2-iminothiolane. The thiolation/maleimidation reactions lead to the addition of approximately 8 PEGs per hemoglobin tetramer. Identification of PEG modified globins by SDS-PAGE and MALDI-TOF reveals a small percentage of protein migrating at the position for unmodified globin chains and the remaining as separate bands representing globin chains conjugated with 1 to 4 PEGs per chain. Identification of PEG modification sites on individual alpha and beta globins was made using reverse-phase HPLC, showing a series of alpha globins conjugated with 0 to 3 PEGs and a series of beta globins conjugated with 0 to 4 PEGs per globin. Mass analysis of tryptic peptides from hemoglobin thiolated and maleimidated with N-ethyl maleimide showed the same potential sites of modification regardless of thiolation reaction ratio, with seven sites identified on beta globins at beta8, beta17, beta59, beta66, beta93, beta95, and beta132 and three sites identified on alpha globins at alpha7, alpha16, and alpha40.     

Human hemoglobin Portland II (zeta 2 beta 2). Isolation and characterization of Portland hemoglobin components and their constituent globin chains

Two types of embryonic hemoglobins (Hb) containing zeta chains have been identified in the blood of several neonates of Chinese origin with homozygous alpha-thalassemia. In addition to Hb Portland I (zeta 2 gamma 2) which was previously reported, another embryonic hemoglobin has been detected and found to contain zeta chains and beta chains. It is being designated Hb Portland II and has the formula (zeta 2 beta 2). It has a mobility slightly slower than that of Hb A on starch gel electrophoresis at pH 8.6 and has been found in the hemolysates of blood of some but not all hydropic infants. Another component with a mobility faster than that of Hb A2 on starch gel has been isolated from the blood of some hydropic neonates. This latter component is postulated to be zeta 2 delta 2. The occurrence of Hb Portland I and Hb Portland II in these hydropic neonates is consistent with the hypothesis that, in the absence of normal alpha chain production, zeta chains are continued to be produced at later states of development than normal and form tetramers with each of the beta-like globin chains. Because Hb Portland II has not been found in blood from all hydropic neonates, we postulate that the presence of this hemoglobin in these fetuses may be correlated with the gestational age of the fetus at the time of birth.     

Detection of severe nondeletional alpha-thalassemia mutations using a single-tube multiplex ARMS assay

Alpha-thalassemia is a common hereditary anemia due to decreased or absent synthesis of alpha-globin chains. The most common causes of alpha-thalassemia are deletions that remove one or both functional alpha-globin genes, with a small proportion of cases involving nondeletional mutations of the alpha2- or alpha1-globin genes. Herein, we describe a single-tube multiplex amplification refractory mutation system (ARMS) assay for rapid detection of six of the most common and severe nondeletional alpha-thalassemia mutations. These alleles are found predominantly among southeast Asian populations, and are associated with the most severe forms of hemoglobin (Hb) H disease or Hb H hydrops fetalis.     

Universal newborn screening for Hb H disease in California

Newborn screening is an accepted public health measure to ensure that appropriate health care is provided in a timely manner to infants with hereditary/metabolic disorders. Alpha-thalassemia is a common hemoglobin (Hb) disorder, and causes Hb H (beta4) disease, and usually fatal homozygous alpha(0)-thalassemia, also known as Hb Bart's (gamma4) hydrops fetalis syndrome. In 1996, the State of California began to investigate the feasibility of universal newborn screening for Hb H disease. Initial screening was done on blood samples obtained by heel pricks from newborns, and stored as dried blood spots on filter paper. Hb Bart's levels were measured as fast-moving Hb by automated high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) identical to that currently used in newborn screening for sickle cell disease. Subsequent confirmation of Hb H disease was done by DNA-based diagnostics for alpha-globin genotyping. A criterion of 25% or more Hb Bart's as determined by HPLC detects most, if not all cases of Hb H disease, and few cases of alpha-thalassemia trait. From January, 1998, through June, 2000, 89 newborns were found to have Hb H disease. The overall prevalence for Hb H disease among all newborns in California is approximately 1 per 15,000. Implementation of this program to existing newborn hemoglobinopathy screening in populations with significant proportions of southeast Asians is recommended. The correct diagnosis would allow affected infants to be properly cared for, and would also raise awareness for the prevention of homozygous alpha(0)-thalassemia or Hb Bart's hydrops fetalis syndrome.     

Heterogeneity in the globin chain composition of a human minor fetal hemoglobin component

The first hemoglobin found to contain an acetyl blocking group was the minor human fetal hemoglobin, Hb FI, present as 10-15% of the total fetal hemoglobin in umbilical cord blood red cells. Acetylation occurs at the amino-terminal glycine of the gamma-globin chain. Assays for the acetyl group by two different methods gave values less than the 2 per tetramer expected for a fully acetylated hemoglobin. We have purified acetylated fetal hemoglobin FIc to homogeneity. The globin chain composition of Hb FIc has been examined by both globin chain separation on CM-cellulose and by tryptic peptide mapping by HPLC. The identities of the gamma globin chains and of the gamma T-1 peptides were confirmed by amino acid analysis. Globin chain separation profiles showed the presence of 22.3 +/- 7.0% of gamma 0 globin (of the total gamma globin) in Hb FIc. Accordingly, the tryptic peptide maps of Hb FIc tetramers also showed the presence of a similar amount of gamma 0T-1 peptide. The gamma 0T-1 peptide was not present in the maps of isolated gamma Ic globin. It is evident that column purified Hb FIc contains a certain percentage of non-acetylated gamma-globin chains, thus indicating a hybrid globin chain composition for this minor fetal hemoglobin component.     

Spin label studies on conformational changes of aphohemoglobin due to heme binding.

Human apohemoglobin (globin) was spin-labeled at the beta-93 sulfhydryl groups with 2,2,5,5-tetramethyl-3-aminopyrrolidine-I-oxyl. Spin-labeled globin exhibited an EPR spectra that is less immobilized than that of spin-labeled hemoglobin, indicating the conformational difference in the vicinity of the label between hemoglobin and globin. Spectrophotometric titration of spin-labeled globin with protohemin showed that 1 mol of globin (on the tetramer basis) combines with 4 mol of hemin, producing a holomethemoglobin spectrophotometrically indistinguishable from native methemoglobin. The EPR spectrum was also changed strikingly upon the addition of protohemin. This change, however, was not proportional to the amount of hemin added, but marked changes occurred after 3 to 4 mol of hemin were mixed with 1 mol of spin-labeled globin. The EPR spectrum of spin-labeled hemoglobin thus prepared was identical with that prepared by direct spin labeling to methemoglobin. These results suggest the preferential binding of hemin to alpha-globin chains in the course of heme binding by globin. This assumption was further confirmed by preparing spin-labeled semihemoglobin in which only one kind of chain contained hemin (alpha h betaO SL and alpha O beta h SL). The EPR spectrum of the alpha h beta O SL molecule showed a slightly immobilized EPR spectrum, similar to that of spin-labeled globin mixed with 50% of the stoichiometric amount of hemin. On the other hand, the alpha O beta h SL molecule showed a distinctly different EPR signal from that of globin half-saturated with hemin, and showed an intermediate spectrum between those of beta h SL and alpha h beta h SL. These results indicate that heme binding to globin chains brings about a major conformational change in the protein moiety and that chain-chain association plays a secondary role. We conclude that hemin binds preferentially to alpha-globin chains and that the conformation of globin changes rapidly to that of methemoglobin after all four hemes are attached to globin heme pockets.