A recently initiated collaboration between Russian and American institutions has resulted in the characterization of several known or new beta-thalassemia alleles and unstable hemoglobin types. Nine known beta-thalassemia alleles were present which have also been found in Mediterranean, East Asian, and Black populations; the possibility of independent mutations for some of the rare alleles should be considered. Hb Durham-N.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFEight known abnormal hemoglobins in more than 40 patients have been identified with an allele-specific amplification procedure. These are mutants of the A gamma (Hb F-Sardinia), the delta (Hb B2), the alpha (Hb G-Philadelphia), and the beta (Hbs S, C, E, D-Los Angeles, O-Arab) globin genes. Adjustment to an unusually high annealing temperature improves the procedure greatly, allowing excellent discrimination between normal and mutant alleles, irrespective of the particular mismatch.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFWe have identified a valine-->methionine mutation at position 67 of the beta chain in the hemoglobin of a young Russian patient with severe hemolytic disease, anemia, splenomegaly, Heinz body formation, and continued requirement for blood transfusions despite an early splenectomy. Sequencing of amplified DNA readily identified a GTG-->ATG mutation at codon 67. The introduction of the larger methionine residue into the heme pocket, and the loss of the bonds between valine at beta 67 and the heme group, adequately account for the severe instability of Hb Alesha and the serious clinical condition of its carrier.
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