Abstract
HÆMOGLOBIN A2, the minor component of normal adult hæmoglobin, amounts to about 2.5 per cent of the total hæmoglobin; it can be distinguished from the major adult component, hæmoglobin A1, by its electrophoretic and chromatographic properties. Recent investigations have shown that hæmoglobin A2 consists of two types of polypeptide chains: the α-chain, identical with the α-chain of hæmoglobins A1 and F, and the δ-chain, which differs in constitution from the corresponding chains of hæmoglobin A1, (the β-chain) and F (the γ-chain)1,2. A two-fold increase of the normal percentage of hæmoglobin A2 occurs in the usual type of β-chain thalassæmia trait, prevalent in Greece3, while a decrease is observed in hæmoglobin-H disease. A decrease of the A2 fraction down to 1 per cent has been observed as a reversible phenomenon in iron-deficiency anæmia4. Traces of hæmoglobin A2 can be detected in cord blood hæmoglobin by the application of special techniques.
This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution
Access options
Subscribe to this journal
Receive 51 print issues and online access
$199.00 per year
only $3.90 per issue
Buy this article
- Purchase on Springer Link
- Instant access to full article PDF
Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Huisman, T. H. J., Horton, B., and Sebens, T. B., Nature, 190, 357 (1961).
Ingram, V. M., and Stretton, A. O. W., Nature, 190, 1079 (1961).
Malamos, B., Fessas, Ph., and Stamatoyannopoulos, G., Brit. J. Hæmat., 7, 5 (1962).
Josephson, A. M., Masri, M. M., Singer, L., Dworkin, D., and Singer, K., Blood, 13, 543 (1958).
Ceppellini, R., Biochemistry of Human Genetics, 133 (Churchill, London, 1959).
Horton, B., Payne, R. A., Bridges, M. T., and Huisman, T. H. J., Clin. Chim. Acta, 6, 246 (1961).
Shooter, E. M., Skinner, E. R., Garlick, G. P., and Barnicot, N. A., Brit. J. Hæmat., 6, 140 (1960).
Fessas, Ph., Stamatoyannopoulos, G., and Karaklis, A., Blood, 19, 1 (1962).
Zuelzer, W. W., Robinson, A. R., and Booker, C. R., Blood, 17, 393 (1961).
Ingram, V. M., and Stretton, A. O. W., Nature, 184, 1903 (1959).
Fessas, Ph., Hæmoglobin Colloquium, 90 (G. Thieme, Stuttgart, 1962).
Fessas, Ph., and Karaklis, A., Clin. Chim. Acta, 7, 133 (1962).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
FESSAS, P., STAMATOYANNOPOULOS, G. Absence of Hæmoglobin A2 in an Adult. Nature 195, 1215–1216 (1962). https://doi.org/10.1038/1951215a0
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/1951215a0
This article is cited by
-
Acquisizioni moderne in tema di emoglobinopatie
La Ricerca in Clinica e in Laboratorio (1971)
-
Carbonic Anhydrase Deficiency With Persistence of Foetal Haemoglobin: A New Syndrome
Nature (1966)
-
A Variation in the Electrophoretic Pattern of Human Erythrocyte Carbonic Anhydrase
Nature (1964)
-
Thalass�mie in Deutschland
Klinische Wochenschrift (1963)
Comments
By submitting a comment you agree to abide by our Terms and Community Guidelines. If you find something abusive or that does not comply with our terms or guidelines please flag it as inappropriate.
