Carbamylation of human HbF on carboxy methyl cellulose column in 8 M urea pH 6.7

Biochemical and immunochemical methods were utilized to establish whether a protein fraction eluted from a carboxy methyl cellulose column by the Clegg technique was a modified gamma (Y) chain of human HbF and should be included with the alpha/non-alpha ratios used to calculate balanced globin synthesis in determination of thalassemia. This component which eluted prior to the gamma chain fraction was found to be different from the gamma chain of human HbF judged by isoelectric point and electrophoretic mobility. However, it was similar to the gamma chain by immunochemical reactivity. Thus, this component should be incorporated into the calculations of the gamma chain when fractionations of hemoglobin by the Clegg column procedure is used to establish the diagnosis of thalassemia.