title: The "b" mutated gene in heterozygous Belgrade anemic rat.
abstract: The Belgrade b/b rat has an autosomal recessive mutation which in homozygous state induces severe anemia. So far, this mutation has been considered a recessive one and the heterozygous animals (+/b) as phenotypically normal. In this study, we showed that at the hematologic level, the heterozygous animals acquire some of the anemic characteristics as well. Namely, the young +/b animal displays reticulocytosis of 3.1 +/- 1.0%, identical to b/b rat, compared with 0.8 +/- 0.4% in young normal animals. This conclusion was further supported by examination of beta-globin expression. The level of beta-globin mRNA in anemic and heterozygous reticulocytes is decreased, as estimated by dot blot hybridization, to 25% and 50% of normal level, respectively. Although inapparent phenotypically, b mutated allele disturbs early erythropoiesis and markedly decreases globin mRNA level in the heterozygous rat.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Molecular Genetics and Genetic Engineering, Belgrade, Yugoslavia.
authors.forename: Z B
authors.initials: ZB
authors.lastname: Popović
authors.forename: N V
authors.initials: NV
authors.lastname: Rajić
authors.forename: S D
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Savković
authors.forename: V R
authors.initials: VR
authors.lastname: Glisin
mesh_terms: D000740:Anemia / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics*; D000818:Animals; D004906:Erythrocyte Count; D005914:Globins / Q000235:genetics; D006579:Heterozygote; D009693:Nucleic Acid Hybridization; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000097:blood; D051381:Rats; D011922:Rats, Mutant Strains; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D012156:Reticulocytes / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D012333:RNA, Messenger; D005914:Globins