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Biomedical subjects

J B Clegg

Publications and source records attributed to J B Clegg.

At least 253 records · Page 14Linked to original sources

Hemoglobin Philly (beta 35 tyrosine phenylalanine): studies in the molecular pathology of hemoglobin.

An abnormal unstable hemoglobin, hemoglobin Philly, was found in three members of a family, each of whom had evidence of a chronic hemolytic state. The presence of the mutant protein was suggested by the rapid appearance of inclusion bodies upon incubation of erythrocytes with brilliant cresyl blue and by the increased heat precipitability of the hemoglobin. However, no abnormal hemoglobin could be demonstrated by electrophoresis or column chromatography. Sulfhydryl titration of the hemolysates with p-mercuribenzoate indicated that there was an average of four reactive sulfhydryl groups per hemoglobin molecule instead of the usual two. The total number of hemoglobin sulfhydryl groups was normal; six groups were measured when denatured globin was reacted with 5,5'-dithiobis[2-nitrobenzoic acid]. This indicated that the increased sulfhydryl reactivity was due to an increased availability to p-mercuribenzoate of the usually unreactive hemoglobin cysteines at beta112 and alpha104. After treatment for (1/2) hr with 4-5 moles of p-mercuribenzoate per mole of hemoglobin, electrophoresis revealed that 30-35% of the hemoglobin had been dissociated into alpha- and beta-chains. Normal hemolysates revealed negligible splitting after 72 hr of similar treatment. The alpha- and beta-chains of hemoglobin Philly were separated from the unsplit hemoglobin A by carboxymethyl cellulose chromatography. Fingerprint and amino acid analyses revealed that tyrosine beta35 was replaced by phenylalanine. In hemoglobin Philly there is loss of the normal hydrogen bond between the tyrosine hydroxyl group and the carboxyl group of aspartic acid alpha126 at the alpha(1)beta(1) contact. This shifts the equilibrium from hemoglobin tetramers toward monomers, exposing the beta112 and alpha104 cysteines. In the cell, precipitation of the unstable monomers may contribute to erythrocyte destruction.

Amino Acids↗

Immunoglobulin lambda-chains. The complete amino acid sequence of a Bence-Jones protein.

The total amino acid sequence of a lambda Bence-Jones protein has been established. The protein contains 211 residues, which include two methionine residues. Splitting with cyanogen bromide gave three fragments, the largest of which included the C-terminal half, which is common to other Bence-Jones proteins of the same type. The peptides obtained by tryptic, chymotryptic and peptic digestion were isolated and purified by paper-electrophoretic and chromatographic techniques. Reduction followed by carboxymethylation of the cysteine residues with radioactive iodoacetate was found to be a powerful tool in the isolation of some insoluble peptides. Unusual features of the molecule are the fact that it contains six cysteine residues and not five as observed in both kappa and lambda Bence-Jones proteins studied previously, and its size, which seems two residues smaller than the smallest Bence-Jones protein studied hitherto. The similarities and differences between this and other Bence-Jones proteins are discussed.

Amino Acid Sequence↗