A unique alpha chain in hemoglobin of “Skive” DanishMus musculus

Abstract

The primary structures of the alpha chains in hemoglobins from three stocks of mice with the Hbaw2, Hbaw3, and Hbaw4 haplotypes were determined to establish whether the tentative alpha-chain assignments based on the results of isoelectric focusing patterns were correct. These Hba haplotypes were identified in laboratory descendants of feral mice captured in different parts of the world. Hemoglobin from "Centreville", Maryland, Mus musculus domesticus (Hbaw2) contains equal amounts of alpha chains 1 and 3. Hemoglobin from "Czech" Mus musculus musculus (Hbaw4) contains equal amounts of alpha chains 3 and 4. Amino acid analysis of the alpha-globins of "Skive" Danish Mus musculus musculus (Hbaw3) establishes that its hemoglobin is comprised of about one-third alpha chain 2 as expected plus a greater amount of a unique alpha chain that has not been described previously. This unique alpha chain has glycine at position 25, isoleucine at position 62, and serine at position 68; it is called chain 7. It may represent an intermediate in the evolution of genes that code for chain 2 (which has glycine, valine, and serine at positions 25, 62, and 68, respectively) and chain 4 (which has valine, isoleucine, and serine at positions 25, 62, and 62, respectively).