title: Minor early embryonic chick hemoglobin M. Amino acid sequences of the epsilon and alpha D chains.
abstract: Erythrocytes of the early chick embryo contain four hemoglobins, two major and two minor. In this paper, we present amino acid sequences for the beta-like and alpha-like chains of HbM, the least abundant of the four early chick hemoglobins. The complete amino acid sequence of the beta-like chain of HbM is identical with that of the epsilon chain of HbE, the other minor early embryonic hemoglobin in the domestic chicken. Analysis of the alpha-like chain of HbM (92 of 141 residues) reveals a globin sequence closely related to the minor adult alpha D chain. Comparison of our sequence data with the nucleotide sequence of the alpha D globin gene suggests that a single gene encodes both the embryonic and adult alpha D globin polypeptides. We discuss the structure, possible function, and evolution of the HbM globin chains.
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D005075:Biological Evolution; D001717:Birds; D002642:Chick Embryo; D002645:Chickens; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000032:analysis; D005796:Genes; D005914:Globins / Q000235:genetics; D006449:Hemoglobin M / Q000235:genetics; D006455:Hemoglobins, Abnormal / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D046911:Macromolecular Substances; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000032:analysis; D011487:Protein Conformation; D011817:Rabbits; D013045:Species Specificity
chemical_list: D006455:Hemoglobins, Abnormal; D046911:Macromolecular Substances; D010446:Peptide Fragments; D005914:Globins; D006449:Hemoglobin M