Abstract
MAMMALIAN embryonic haemoglobins are synthesised in nucleated erythroid cells derived from the yolk sac1. They are structurally different from foetal and adult haemoglobins. It has been generally assumed that the difference of embryonic to foetal or adult haemoglobin is solely due to an embryonic globin chain structurally related to the β chain. It was believed that embryos either synthesise no α-type chain at all or an α chain structurally identical to the adult α chain2,3.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Metcalf, D., and Moore, M. A. S., Haemopoietic Cells, 172–195, (North-Holland, Amsterdam and London, 1971).
Huehns, E. R., Dance, N., Beaven, G. H., Keil, J. V., Hecht, F., and Motulsky, A. G., Nature, 201, 1095–1097 (1964).
Hecht, F., Motulsky, A. G., Lemire, R. J., and Shepard, T. E., Science, 152, 91–92 (1965).
Capp, G. L., Rigas, D. A., and Jones, R. T., Science, 157, 65–66 (1967).
Capp, G. L., Rigas, D. A., and Jones, R. T., Nature, 228, 278–280 (1970).
Kaltsoya, A., Fessas, P., and Stavropoulos, A., Science, 153, 1417–1418 (1966).
Todd, D., Lai, M. C. S., Beaven, G. H., and Huehns, E. R., Br. J. Haemat., 19, 27–31 (1970).
Weatherall, D. J., Clegg, J. B., and Boon, W. H., Br. J. Haemat., 18, 357–367 (1970).
Dayhoff, M. O., Hunt, L. T., McLaughlin, P. J., and Jones, D. D., in Atlas of Protein Sequence and Structure (edit. by Dayhoff, M. O., (17-30 (Washington, DC, 1972).
Fantoni, A., Bank, A., and Marks, P. A., Science, 157, 1327–1329 (1967).
Steinheider, G., Melderis, H., and Ostertag, W., in Int. Symp. Synthesis, Structure and Function of Hemoglobin, 1971 (edit. by Martin, H., and Novicki, L.), 225–235 (Lehmanns, München, 1972).
Gilman, J. G., Thesis (University of Wisconsin, 1973).
Gilman, J. G., and Smithies, O., Science, 169, 885–886 (1968).
Huisman, T. H. J., Martis, E. A., and Dozy, M. A., J. lab. clin. Med., 52, 312–327 (1958).
Ostertag, W., Melderis, H., Steinheider, G., Kluge, N., and Dube, S., Nature new Biol., 239, 231–234 (1972).
Dintzis, H. M., Proc. natn. Acad. Set. U.S.A., 44, 247–261 (1961).
Fantoni, A., De La Chapelle, A., and Marks, P. A., J. biol. Chem., 244, 675–681 (1968).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
MELDERIS, H., STEINHEIDER, G. & OSTERTAG, W. Evidence for a unique kind of α-type globin chain in early mammalian embryos. Nature 250, 774–776 (1974). https://doi.org/10.1038/250774a0
Received:
Revised:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/250774a0
- Springer Nature Limited
This article is cited by
-
A mouse α-globin-related pseudogene lacking intervening sequences
Nature (1980)
-
Evolutionary trends in the hemoglobins of murine animals
Journal of Biosciences (1980)
-
Haemoglobin-oxygen affinity in developing embryonic erythroid cells of the mouse
Journal of Comparative Physiology ? B (1979)
-
Embryonic hemoglobins: dependency of functional characteristics on tetramer composition
Pfl�gers Archiv European Journal of Physiology (1978)
-
Oxygen affinity and phosphate compounds of red blood cells during intrauterine development of rabbits
Pfl�gers Archiv European Journal of Physiology (1977)