Two hemoglobin phenotypes in the American bison (Bison bison): A possible genetic explanation based on structural studies

A survey of blood specimens from 146 American bison, Bison bison, showed the presence of two hemoglobin phenotypes because the ratio of the two normally occurring hemoglobins differed. These two hemoglobins, which are readily identified by their electrophoretic properties and are referred to as Hb-fast and Hb-slow, have been found in all bison. Chromatographic analyses showed that in the majority of animals the ratio between the relative amounts of Hb-fast and Hb-slow was about 60:40, but in three animals from South Dakota this ratio was about 80:20. Structural studies were made on the chains of Hb-fast and Hb-slow from one animal with the 60:40 ratio and on those from a second animal with the 80:20 ratio. Four types of chains could be demonstrated which differ from each other by at least one to three amino acid residues. It is suggested that these four -chain types are the products of two nonallelic Hb structural genes and their alleles.This research was supported by United States Public Health Service Research Grant HL-05168.