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Biomedical subjects

J B Clegg

Publications and source records attributed to J B Clegg.

17 recordsLinked to original sources

Negro alpha-thalassaemia is caused by deletion of a single alpha-globin gene.

Studies in two Jamaican Negro families, including haematological and haemoglobin analysis, haemoglobin synthesis, and globin messenger-RNA assay, have defined two alpha-thalassaemia phenotypes which resemble the severe (alpha-thalassaemia 1) and mild (alpha-thalassaemia 2) forms of the disorder described in Orientals. Genetic analysis suggests that subjects with the alpha-thalassaemia-1 phenotype are homozygous for the alpha-thalassaemia-2 determinant. Restriction-endonuclease mapping shows that alpha-thalassaemia-2 results from the deletion of one of the linked pair of alpha-chain genes. Hence the genotypes of the alpha-thalassaemia heterozygotes and homozygotes in these families are -alpha/alpha alpha and -alpha/-alpha respectively. If these are the usual alpha-thalassaemia genotypes in Negroes, these findings explain the difference in clinical expression of the disorder between Orientals and Negroes--in particular, the absence of haemoglobin Bart's hydrops and the rarity of haemoglobin-H disease in Negroes.

Black People

Hemoglobin polymorphism in Equus przewalskii and E. caballus analyzed by isoelectric focusing.

1. Through the use of isoelectric focusing and peptide analysis, the hemoglobins of Przewalski's horse. Equus przewalskii and the domestic horse, E. caballus have been compared. 2. Przewalski's horses have two separate alpha-globin chain polymorphisms similar to domestic horses. Each hemoglobin phenotype could be accurately determined by isoelectric focusing. 3. Confirmation of the electrofocusing hemoglobin determinations was made by comparison to amino acid composition analyses of purified tryptic peptides and by analysis of the rare hemoglobins phenotypes observed in a family of Norwegian trotting horses. 4. Hemoglobin genotypes of fifteen Przewalski's horses were determined and inheritance of hemoglobin haplotypes has been observed.

Amino Acids

Occurrence of G gamma Hb F in Greek HPFH: analysis of heterozygotes and compound heterozygotes with beta thalassaemia.

Haemoglobin F has been isolated from the red cells of individuals with the Greek form of hereditary persistence of fetal haemoglobin (HPFH), and the glycine/alanine composition of the gamma CB3 peptides determined. In contrast to previous reports we have shown that the Hb F of the Greek HPFH heterozygotes contains significant amounts of G gamma chains and circumstantial evidence indicates that these are the products of the same chromosome that carries the Greek HPFH determinant. Hence this chromosome must be directing the synthesis of G gamma, A gamma and (probably) beta and delta chains, thus implying that the Greek form of HPFH does not result from a deletion involving the globin chain structural genes. Analysis of the levels and structure of Hb F from the Greek HPFH heterozygotes and from separated cell populations from the Greek HPFH/beta thalassaemia compound heterozygotes indicate that the Greek HPFH determinant, while allowing an overall increase in gamma chain synthesis, is not the sole factor determining the absolute amount of Hb F production on a cellular basis.

Adult

A comparison of the homozygous states for G gamma and G gamma A gamma delta beta thalassaemia.

One Arabic and two Indian patients with thalassaemia intermedia produce only Hb F for the G gamma type. Haemoglobin synthesis studies and genetic analysis indicate that they are homozygous for G gamma delta beta thalassaemia. The findings in these patients and their heterozygous relatives are compared with those in an individual homozygous for G gamma A gamma delta beta thalassaemia. From this analysis, and from previously reported data on G gamma A gamma delta beta thalassaemia, the phenotypic expression of the two varieties of delta beta thalassaemia is defined. The relationship between the clinical expression and molecular pathology of these forms of delta beta thalassaemia is discussed.

Adolescent

G gamma beta + type of hereditary persistence of fetal haemoglobin in association with Hb C.

This report describes a Negro family with the G gamma beta + type of hereditary persistence of fetal haemoglobin. Family members with levels of haemoglobin F of 17 to 23% had normal red cell indices, balanced globin chain synthesis, and a pancellular distribution of the fetal haemoglobin, showing that these subjects have a form of HPFH. The production of Hb A and C in addition to the large amount of Hb F in one family member showed that there was an active beta A gene in cis to the HPFH determinant, while structural analysis of the Hb F revealed the presence of only G gamma chains. The criteria for the diagnosis of G gamma beta + HPFH, and the relevance of such conditions to the control of globin gene expression, are discussed.

Adult

Genetic control of F cells in human adults.

Hb F levels were determined on samples from 750 normal blood donors. Six individuals (0.8%) had Hb F levels in excess of 1.1%, the upper end of the continuous distribution. Eight individuals at the upper end and 7 individuals at the lower end of the range were selected for family studies. These studies revealed that the control of Hb F levels in adults, as judged by the more sensitive F-cell technique, has a major genetic component. Structural analysis of the Hb F in several cases demonstrated that both G gamma and A gamma chains were present, but in variable proportions. These results are discussed in light of current concepts of adult F-cell production.

Adolescent

A model for the persistence or reactivation of fetal haemoglobin production.

Normal adults may have two distinct erythroid precursor populations, a major one which produces only adult haemoglobin (HbA), and another which produces HbA and fetal haemoglobin (H0F) (F cells). Persistence or apparent reactivation of HbF production in adults results from differential selection of these F cells, except in those rare conditions which are due to specific deletions of D.N.A. involved in suppression of gamma-chain synthesis. The increase in HbF which results from a genetically determined increase in F cells appears to ameliorate sicke-cell anaemia or beta thalassaemia. Augmentation of the F-cell population might offer a therapeutic approach to these disorders.

Adult

The alpha-chain-termination mutants and their relation to the alpha-thalassaemias.

The structure, synthesis, genetic transmission, clinical associations and distribution of the elongated alpha-chain haemoglobin variants has been described. The data indicate that the most likely molecular basis for these common abnormal haemoglobins is a single base substitution in the alpha-chain termination codon. Because these variants are produced inefficiently they give rise to the clinical picture of alpha-thalassaemia. When these findings are taken together with recent work regarding the molecular basis for other forms of alpha-thalassaemia it is possible to build up a fairly complete picture of the molecular pathology of the alpha-thalassaemias.

Amino Acids

Human globin gene analysis for a patient with beta-o/delta beta-thalassemia.

Complementary DNA (cDNA) was prepared with RNA-dependent DNA polymerase from human globin messenger RNA (mRNA). Annealing and translation experimenta with total mRNA from circulating cells from a patient with heterozygous beta/heterozygous beta-delta-o thalassemia (beta-o/delta beta-o-thalassemia) demonstrated no detectable mRNA for beta-globin. cDNA enriched in sequences homologous to beta-globin mRNA was prepared by hydroxylapatite fractionation of hybrids formed between beta-o/delta beta-o-thalassemic mRNA and cDNA made from mRNA from a patient with alpha-thalassemia (hemoglobin H disease). The rate of annealing of this beta-enriched cDNA to normal human nuclear DNA was that of a sequence present as only a single copy per haploid genome. The beta-enriched cDNA annealed to the beta-o-delta beta-o-thalassemia total DNA with approximately the same kinetics as to normal DNA, indicating that no total gene deletion of beta-globin genes from the diploid genome has occurred, although the accuracy of the technique could not exclude with certainty a partial deletion or a deletion of a beta-globin gene from only one of the haploid genomes. This demonstrates that at least one of the beta-o- or the delta beta-o-thalassemia haploid genomes in this case contains a substantially intact beta-globin gene.

Adolescent

Human haemoglobin genetics.

The genes which direct the structure of human fetal and adult haemoglobin consist of a linked pair of alpha-chain loci on chromosome 16 and the G gamma-A gamma-delta-beta loci complex on chromosome 11. The delta-and beta-chain genes contain inserts similar to those of the mouse and rabbit globin genes. The structure of the various messenger RNAs transcribed from these loci is now worked out although the function of the non-coding regions is not known. The abnormal haemoglobin disorders and thalassaemias result from a variety of lesions at these loci which include single base substitutions, deletions of one or more bases or entire loci, insertions, frame-shifts, fusion genes caused by abnormal crossing over, chain termination mutations and ill-defined defects which lead to a reduced rate of transcription or abnormal structure of messenger RNA. Some progress has been made towards an understanding of the cellular mechanisms whereby the haemoglobin polymorphisms have been maintained. Very little is known about the regulatory mechanisms involved in the switch from fetal to adult haemoglobin production, although it is likely that certain specific areas of the gamma-delta-beta gene complex are involved in its control.

Anemia, Sickle Cell