title: Effect of transferrin absence on in vitro globin chain synthesis in reticulocytes of beta-thalassemic patients.
abstract: The effect of transferrin absence on in vitro globin chain synthesis and on the alpha/beta ratio were investigated in four patients with beta-thalassemia intermedia and one heterozygote with "silent" beta-thalassemia. With one exception the lack of transferrin in the incubation medium resulted in the reduction of the globin alpha/beta ratio which paralleled a reduction in overall protein synthesis. In one patient with beta-thalassemia intermedia, however, the absence of transferrin failed to affect this ratio.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001483:Base Sequence; D005260:Female; D005914:Globins / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis; D012156:Reticulocytes / Q000378:metabolism*; D012270:Ribosomes / Q000032:analysis; D013789:Thalassemia / Q000097:blood*; D014168:Transferrin / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D012333:RNA, Messenger; D014168:Transferrin; D005914:Globins