Biomaterial Database

Linkage of genes for adult alpha-globin and embryonic alpha-like globin chains. 1980

J B Whitney, and E S Russell

In alpha-thalassemia, the genetic locus for the alpha chains of adult hemoglobin is not expressed. We have examined the hemoglobins of a number of individual mouse embryos heterozygous for a particular alpha-thalassemia (Hbath-J) and find no decrease in the proportion of hemoglobins containing the alpha chain as compared to the hemoglobin containing the alpha-like embryonic globin chain. This result suggests that the locus for this embryonic alpha-like chain is inactivated or deleted in these embryos as well. Because a single mutational event inactivated adult and embryonic loci, we conclude that they are probably closely linked to one another on the same chromosome. We also present evidence that an unusual hemoglobin in the blood of these embryos is composed only of an embryonic beta-like chain, and is thus analogous to the hemoglobin H (beta 4 tetramer) of adult alpha-thalassemics.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D008040	Genetic Linkage	The co-inheritance of two or more non-allelic GENES due to their being located more or less closely on the same CHROMOSOME.	Genetic Linkage Analysis,Linkage, Genetic,Analyses, Genetic Linkage,Analysis, Genetic Linkage,Genetic Linkage Analyses,Linkage Analyses, Genetic,Linkage Analysis, Genetic
D008810	Mice, Inbred C57BL	One of the first INBRED MOUSE STRAINS to be sequenced. This strain is commonly used as genetic background for transgenic mouse models. Refractory to many tumors, this strain is also preferred model for studying role of genetic variations in development of diseases.	Mice, C57BL,Mouse, C57BL,Mouse, Inbred C57BL,C57BL Mice,C57BL Mice, Inbred,C57BL Mouse,C57BL Mouse, Inbred,Inbred C57BL Mice,Inbred C57BL Mouse
D004586	Electrophoresis	An electrochemical process in which macromolecules or colloidal particles with a net electric charge migrate in a solution under the influence of an electric current.	Electrophoreses
D005319	Fetal Hemoglobin	The major component of hemoglobin in the fetus. This HEMOGLOBIN has two alpha and two gamma polypeptide subunits in comparison to normal adult hemoglobin, which has two alpha and two beta polypeptide subunits. Fetal hemoglobin concentrations can be elevated (usually above 0.5%) in children and adults affected by LEUKEMIA and several types of ANEMIA.	Hemoglobin F,Hemoglobin, Fetal
D005796	Genes	A category of nucleic acid sequences that function as units of heredity and which code for the basic instructions for the development, reproduction, and maintenance of organisms.	Cistron,Gene,Genetic Materials,Cistrons,Genetic Material,Material, Genetic,Materials, Genetic
D005914	Globins	A superfamily of proteins containing the globin fold which is composed of 6-8 alpha helices arranged in a characterstic HEME enclosing structure.	Globin
D000818	Animals	Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA.	Animal,Metazoa,Animalia
D013789	Thalassemia	A group of hereditary hemolytic anemias in which there is decreased synthesis of one or more hemoglobin polypeptide chains. There are several genetic types with clinical pictures ranging from barely detectable hematologic abnormality to severe and fatal anemia.	Thalassemias
D051379	Mice	The common name for the genus Mus.	Mice, House,Mus,Mus musculus,Mice, Laboratory,Mouse,Mouse, House,Mouse, Laboratory,Mouse, Swiss,Mus domesticus,Mus musculus domesticus,Swiss Mice,House Mice,House Mouse,Laboratory Mice,Laboratory Mouse,Mice, Swiss,Swiss Mouse,domesticus, Mus musculus