Abstract

Globin chain synthesis was studied in seven severely iron-deficient patients before and after treatment with iron. There was no appreciable difference between the individual pre- and post-treatment alpha/beta specific activity ratios and the mean alpha/beta ratio for each group was 1.00+/-SD 0.04. In a further six untreated iron-deficient patients the mean alpha/beta ratio was 1.00+/-SD 0.04. There was therefore no evidence that iron deficiency caused a reduction in alpha/beta ratio. Three patients with beta thalassaemia trait and coexistent iron deficiency had lower alpha/beta ratios before treatment than after treatment with iron. It appeared that iron deficiency had caused reduced alpha chain synthesis in this group. Preliminary experiments have shown that the alpha/beta specific activity ratio of purified haemoglobin A is decreased in iron deficiency, indicating an increase in the size of the free alpha chain pool. It is suggested that iron deficiency may interfere with the proteolytic mechanism normally responsible for the destruction of excess alpha chains. In combined iron deficiency and beta thalassaemia trait, the resulting increase in free alpha chains might act by negative feedback to inhibit further alpha chain synthesis (Blum et al, 1970) thereby reducing the pre-treatment alpha/beta ratio.

Talk to us

Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have

Schedule a call

Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.