Duplication of the hemoglobin α-chain gene in sheep: Characterization of a new α-chain variant present in animals possessing the αLeu and theIIαHis chains

The structural characterization of a third type of α chain, detected in the hemoglobin of sheep also possessing the αLeu and theIIαHis chains, is reported. The new α-chain variant is an allele of the common αLeu chain controlled by the1α locus and differs from it in the replacement of the serine residue at position 8 with an alanine (Iα8 Ser→Ala). The alanine variant was observed in 38 of 206 sheep, whose hemolysates were analyzed by isoelectric focusing, and was found exclusively among the 57 animals also possessing theIIαHis chain.