title: Embryonic zeta-globin chains in adults: a marker for alpha-thalassemia-1 haplotype due to a greater than 17.5-kb deletion.
abstract: Hemolysates from adults with the alpha-thalassemia-1 haplotype due to the greater than 17.5-kb deletion of both alpha-globin genes from the same chromosome were found to contain embryonic zeta (zeta)-globin chains (alpha-globin-like chains), as determined by a specific and sensitive radioimmunoassay and an electrophoretic technique. zeta-Globin chains were not present in hemolysates from adults with deletion of a single alpha-globin gene from one or both chromosomes. These results indicate that zeta-globin chains, which can be assayed by immunologic techniques, can serve as markers for the alpha-thalassemia-1 haplotype due to the greater than 17.5-kb deletion. The ability to detect zeta-globin chains may be useful in populations in which the gene frequency of the greater than 17.5-kb deletion is high, for screening couples at risk of having offspring with homozygous alpha-thalassemia.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002872:Chromosome Deletion; D002874:Chromosome Mapping; D004247:DNA / Q000032:analysis; D004591:Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel; D005260:Female; D005914:Globins / Q000235:genetics*; D006238:Haploidy; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D013789:Thalassemia / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D005914:Globins; D004247:DNA