Simplified typing of mouse hemoglobin (Hbb) phenotypes using cystamine.

Cellulose acetate electrophoresis of mouse hemoglobins modified with the disulfide reagent cystamine permits rapid, unequivocal discrimination of all combinations of the codominant mouse hemoglobin “single” (Hbb s ) and “diffuse” (Hbb d and Hbb p ) alleles. The single, diffuse major, diffuse d-minor, and diffuse p-minor adult hemoglobins are all resolved by this method, which depends on the presence of a cysteine in the β chains of “diffuse” mice which is not found in the β chain of “single” mice.