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Ratios of α-to β-globin mRNA and regulation of globin synthesis in reticulocytes

Abstract

THE genomes of several mammalian species contain at least two α globin loci and a single β globin locus so that the ratio of α- to β-globin genes is 2 : 1 or more1–3. Despite this difference in number of genes, reticulocytes from these species synthesise equal numbers of α- and β-globin chains indicating that compensatory regulation must occur. Cytoplasmic mRNA is an intermediate between the gene and globin protein, and it has been suggested that the cellular α/β mRNA ratio is an important factor in achieving balanced globin synthesis4–6. We report here an excess of 30% α mRNA on reticulocyte polysomes of rabbits, mice, and sheep. Our data also illustrate the potential for errors in studies in which only poly(A)+ RNA is assayed.

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PHILLIPS, J., SNYDER, P. & KAZAZIAN, H. Ratios of α-to β-globin mRNA and regulation of globin synthesis in reticulocytes. Nature 269, 442–445 (1977). https://doi.org/10.1038/269442a0

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