A hemoglobin variant associated with neonatal cyanosis and anemia.
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Crowley MA, Mollan TL, Abdulmalik OY, Butler AD, Goodwin EF, Sarkar A, Stolle CA, Gow AJ, Olson JS, Weiss MJ
A hemoglobin variant associated with neonatal cyanosis and anemia.
N Engl J Med. 2011 May 12;364(19):1837-43. doi: 10.1056/NEJMoa1013579.
- PubMed ID
- 21561349 [ View in PubMed]
- Abstract
Globin-gene mutations are a rare but important cause of cyanosis. We identified a missense mutation in the fetal Ggamma-globin gene (HBG2) in a father and daughter with transient neonatal cyanosis and anemia. This new mutation modifies the ligand-binding pocket of fetal hemoglobin by means of two mechanisms. First, the relatively large side chain of methionine decreases both the affinity of oxygen for binding to the mutant hemoglobin subunit and the rate at which it does so. Second, the mutant methionine is converted to aspartic acid post-translationally, probably through oxidative mechanisms. The presence of this polar amino acid in the heme pocket is predicted to enhance hemoglobin denaturation, causing anemia.