α-Thalassemia associated with hb instability: a tale of two features. the case of Hb Rogliano or α1 Cod 108(G15)Thr→Asn and Hb Policoro or α2 Cod 124(H7)Ser→Pro.
We identified two new variants in the third exon of the α-globin gene in families from southern Italy: the Hb Rogliano, α1 cod108 ACC>AAC or α1[α108(G15)Thr→Asn] and the Hb Policoro, α2 cod124 TCC>CCC or α2[α124(H7)Ser→Pro]. The carriers showed mild α-thalassemia phenotype and abnormal hemoglobin stability features. These mutations occurred in the G and H helices of the α-globin both involved in the specific recognition of AHSP and β1 chain. Molecular characterization of mRNA, globin chain analyses and molecular modelling studies were carried out to highlight the mechanisms causing the α-thalassemia phenotype. The results demonstrated that the α-thalassemia defect associated with the two Hb variants originated by different defects. Hb Rogliano showed an intrinsic instability of the tetramer due to anomalous intra- and inter-chain interactions suggesting that the variant chain is normally synthesized and complexed with AHSP but rapidly degraded because it is unable to form the α1β1 dimers. On the contrary in the case of Hb Policoro two different molecular mechanisms were shown: the reduction of the variant mRNA level by an unclear mechanism and the protein instability due to impairment of AHSP interaction. These data highlighted that multiple approaches, including mRNA quantification, are needed to properly identify the mechanisms leading to the α-thalassemia defect. Elucidation of the specific mechanism leads to the definition of a given phenotype providing important guidance for the diagnosis of unstable variants.
U.O.S. Microcitemia e patologia del globulo rosso, O.O.C. Ematologia A.O. Cosenza, Italy.
Maria Grazia
MG
Bisconte
Laboratorio Specialistico di Ematologia, P.O. San Giovanni Bosco A.S.L. NA1, Napoli, Italy.
Mercedes
M
Caldora
Istituto di Genetica e Biofisica "Adriano Buzzati-Traverso"- Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (CNR), Napoli, Italy.
Gennaro
G
Musollino
Istituto di Genetica e Biofisica "Adriano Buzzati-Traverso"- Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (CNR), Napoli, Italy.
Giovanna
G
Cardiero
Dipartimento di Scienze Chimiche and Ceinge Biotecnologie Avanzate, Università degli Studi "Federico II", Napoli, Italy.
Angela
A
Flagiello
U.O.S. Microcitemia e patologia del globulo rosso, O.O.C. Ematologia A.O. Cosenza, Italy.
Gaetana
G
La Porta
U.O.D. di Thalassemia, ARNAS "Garibaldi", Catania, Italy.
Laura
L
Lagona
Istituto di Genetica e Biofisica "Adriano Buzzati-Traverso"- Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (CNR), Napoli, Italy.
Romeo
R
Prezioso
U.O.S. Microcitemia e patologia del globulo rosso, O.O.C. Ematologia A.O. Cosenza, Italy.
Gabriele
G
Qualtieri
Ospedale Civile, Centro per la lotta contro le Microcitemie, Matera, Italy.
Carlo
C
Gaudiano
U.O.D. di Thalassemia, ARNAS "Garibaldi", Catania, Italy.
Emilia
E
Medulla
Dipartimento di Scienze Chimiche, Università degli Studi "Federico II" and Istituto di Biostrutture e Bioimmagini, CNR Napoli, Italy.
Antonello
A
Merlino
Dipartimento di Scienze Chimiche and Ceinge Biotecnologie Avanzate, Università degli Studi "Federico II", Napoli, Italy.
Piero
P
Pucci
Istituto di Genetica e Biofisica "Adriano Buzzati-Traverso"- Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (CNR), Napoli, Italy.
Giuseppina
G
Lacerra
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001216:Asparagine / Q000737:chemistry; D001483:Base Sequence; D002648:Child; D004252:DNA Mutational Analysis; D005091:Exons; D005260:Female; D005838:Genotype; D006455:Hemoglobins, Abnormal / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010375:Pedigree; D020641:Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide; D011392:Proline / Q000737:chemistry; D055550:Protein Stability; D020836:Protein Structure, Quaternary; D017434:Protein Structure, Tertiary; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D012694:Serine / Q000737:chemistry; D013912:Threonine / Q000737:chemistry; D055815:Young Adult; D017085:alpha-Thalassemia / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology
D006455:Hemoglobins, Abnormal; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D013912:Threonine; D012694:Serine; D001216:Asparagine; D011392:Proline