Differential expression of Iα- and IIα-globin genes in Norwegian dairy goats

Summary. Fast protein liquid chromatography (FPLC) and polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis were used to determine the ratio between ^Iα-and ^IIα-globin chains in Norwegian dairy goats. Three different phenotypes, designated normal (N) with ^Iα- to ^IIα-globin ratio 3:1, reversed (R) with ratio 1:2 and double-reversed (RR) with no ^Iα-globin, were described. Family studies indicated that the R animals were heterozygous, and the RR animal homozygous, for a haplotype without a functional ^Iα-globin product. Southern blot analysis of goat DNAs digested with six different restriction enzymes showed that the different ratios of α chain expression could not be due to a deletion of the ^Iα-gene and/or duplication or triplication of the ^IIα-globin genes. The homozygous reversed animal with no detectable ^Iα-globin had a mild anaemia.