AHSP: a novel hemoglobin helper.
Recently, the small protein alpha hemoglobin-stabilizing protein (AHSP) was identified and found to specifically bind alpha-globin, stabilize its structure, and limit the toxic effects of excess alpha-globin, which are manifest in the inherited blood disorder beta thalassemia. In this issue of the JCI, Yu, Weiss, and colleagues show that AHSP is also critical to the formation and stabilization of normal amounts of hemoglobin, even when alpha-globin is deficient, indicating unique and previously unidentified roles for this molecule.
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Arthur
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Department of Medicine, Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, NY 10032, USA. ab13@columbia.edu
D000818:Animals; D001798:Blood Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D002470:Cell Survival; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D018832:Molecular Chaperones / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*
C511177:Ahsp protein, mouse; D001798:Blood Proteins; D006454:Hemoglobins; D018832:Molecular Chaperones