Isolation and translation of hemoglobin messenger RNA from thalassemia, sickle cell anemia, and normal human reticulocytes

Human hemoglobin messenger RNA was isolated by sucrose gradient centrifugation from reticulocytes of patients having various hemolytic anemias. Using a messenger RNA-dependent cell-free system derived entirely from rabbit reticulocytes, the human hemoglobin messenger RNA has been translated and the products analyzed by carboxymethylcellulose column chromatography. Normal messenger RNA directs synthesis of normal human α- and β-globin chains in nearly equal amounts. Sickle cell anemia messenger RNA directs the synthesis of normal α- and sickle β-chains, β-thalassemia messenger RNA directs the synthesis of normal α- and β-chains, but the amount of β-globin synthesized is markedly reduced. Thus the inability of the thalassemia reticulocyte to produce β-globin is clearly attributable to the β-globin messenger RNA.

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