Hemoglobin switching in sheep and goats: change in functional globin messenger RNA in reticulocytes and bone marrow cells.

ANEMIA CAUSES A CHANGE IN THE TYPE OF CIRCULATING HEMOGLOBIN IN GOATS AND CERTAIN SHEEP: HbA (alpha(2)beta(2) (A)) is replaced by HbC (alpha(2)beta(2) (C)). We have isolated globin mRNA from erythroid cells of anemic and nonanemic animals to investigate the mechanism whereby anemia causes this switch. To study several stages in transition from beta(A) to beta(C) synthesis, active globin mRNA was isolated from bone marrow cells, as well as from reticulocytes. By assaying these globin mRNAs in a rabbit reticulocyte cell-free system, we have demonstrated that the switch from beta(A) to beta(C) globin synthesis is mediated via a change in functional globin mRNA.