Sickle cell anemia (SS) is associated with abnormalities of the red cell membrane and decreased red cell deformability. The present study assesses globin chain binding to stroma in SS, sickle cell trait (AS), and nonsickling (AA) cells. The results indicate that there is preferential binding of newly synthesized βS globin to red cell stroma in SS cells and preferential binding of βS to stroma compared to βA in AS cells. These studies show that βS globin binding to stroma accompanies the membrane abnormalities in SS and AS patients.
Authors
Arthur Bank, Gregory Mears, Robert Weiss, Joyce V. O'Donnell, Clayton Natta
