Abstract
THE existence of an embryonic α-type globin chain (χ or ζ) in early embryos of mice and rabbits has been described1–3. A similar ζ chain can be found in humans4,5. Here we present data on the structure of the embryonic β-type ε chains of mice and rabbits. In mice, three embryonic haemoglobins, Hb EI, EII and EIII have been described. These haemoglobins consist of four globin chains, namely the embryonic χ, εy and εz chains and the adult α chain3,6–8. Hb EI has the structure χ2 εy2, Hb EII is α2 εy2 and Hb EIII is α2 εz2. The χ chain is an embryonic α-type chain1,2. We find six haemoglobin fractions in nucleated embryonic erythrocytes of the rabbit. Three of the haemoglobins (Hb EI–EIII) do not contain α, but χ chains like Hb EI of the mouse; the other three (Hb LI–III) are similar to mouse Hb EII and EIII1.
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STEINHEIDER, G., MELDERIS, H. & OSTERTAG, W. Embryonic ε chains of mice and rabbits. Nature 257, 714–716 (1975). https://doi.org/10.1038/257714a0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/257714a0
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