Amino acid sequence of the alpha A- and beta-polypeptide chains of the Ryukyu rufous turtle dove (Streptopelia orientalis Stimpsoni) hemoglobin

Only one hemoglobin component is recognized in the erythrocytes of the adult Ryukyu rufous turtle dove. We have determined the amino acid sequence of the alpha A-globin and the beta-globin by conventional protein sequence analysis. The sequences of both the alpha A- and the beta-globins were highly similar to domestic pigeon hemoglobin. The alpha A-globin has 6 exchanges and beta-globin has 4 exchanges compared with the corresponding domestic pigeon chains.

Amino-acid sequence of the alpha D- and beta-polypeptide chains of the Japanese quail hemoglobin

Two hemoglobin components are recognized in the erythrocytes of the adult Japanese quail: a major (Q-II) and a minor (Q-I) component. We have determined the amino-acid sequence of the alpha D-globin of the minor component and the beta-globin which is common to both components by conventional protein sequence analysis. The sequences of both the alpha D- and the beta-globins showed close homology with those of their counterpart constituents in other avian hemoglobins. Proline at position 119 in the alpha D-globin which is known to be critical for the altitude respiration by the alpha 1 beta 1 interface is conserved in the Japanese quail hemoglobin.

Primary structure of hemoglobin from monitor lizard (Varanus exanthematicus albigularis--Squamata)

The primary structure of the major hemoglobin component from the Monitor Lizard Varanus exanthematicus albigularis is presented. The polypeptide subunits were separated by reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography on Nucleosil C-4 column. The amino-acid sequence was established by automatic Edman degradation of the native polypeptide and its tryptic and hydrolytic cleavage products in a spinning cup sequencer. The structural data are discussed with reference to other reptiles.

Primary structure of hemoglobin alpha-chain from cuckoo (Eudynamys scolopaceae, cuculiformes)

The complete amino acid sequence of the alpha A-chain of major hemoglobin component from Cuckoo (Eudynamys scolopaceae) is presented. Separation of the polypeptide subunits was achieved by ion exchange chromatography in the presence of 8 M urea. The sequence was studied by automatic Edman degradation of the native chain and its tryptic fragments in a gas-phase sequencer. Comparison with other avian hemoglobins shows residues alpha 21, alpha 30, alpha 96, alpha 110, and alpha 114 as being specific to Cuckoo. The functional significance of these is discussed.

Primary structure of hemoglobin from gray partridge (Francolinus pondacerianus, Galliformes)

The complete amino acid sequence of the alpha A-chain of major hemoglobin component from gray partridge Francolinus pondacerianus is presented. The major component HbA accounts for 75% of the total hemolysate. Separation of the globin subunits was achieved by ion-exchange chromatography on CM-Cellulose in 8 M urea. The sequence was studied by automatic Edman degradation of the native chain and its tryptic peptides in a gas-phase sequencer. The phylogenetic relationship of Galliformes with other avian orders is discussed.

[Molecular aspects of high altitude respiration of birds. Hemoglobins of the striped goose (Anser indicus), the Andean goose, (Chloephaga melanoptera) and vulture (Gyps rueppellii)]

Respiration of birds at high altitude and the structural adaptation of avian hemoglobins are studied. Applying the method of the "minimal biological distance", hemoglobins of closely related species were sequenced and compared with each other. Physiological measurements and sequence data show that adaptation to hypoxic stress can be interpreted as exchange of one amino acid. The structural aspects of the genetical data are discussed on the basis of the atomic model of hemoglobin. High-altitude respiration is not a general characteristic of birds: the adaptation to high altitudes is the result of a specific mutation, thus distinguishing a species from its closest relatives in the lowland.

Hemoglobins of reptiles. The primary structure of the major and minor hemoglobin component of adult Western Painted Turtle (Chrysemys picta bellii)

Red blood cells of adult Western Painted Turtles (Chrysemys picta bellii) contain two hemoglobin components: HbA (alpha A2 beta 2) and HbD (alpha D2 beta 2). We present the complete amino-acid sequences of the alpha A-chains from the major component and of the beta-chains common to both components. Structural features are discussed with respect to the animals extreme tolerance of severe hypoxic conditions during hibernation which is accompanied by a high oxygen affinity of the hemoglobin. The strong ATP dependence of Western Painted Turtle hemoglobin oxygen affinity is contrasted by the loss of one ATP-binding site, beta 143(H21)-Arg----Leu. The primary structure of the beta-chains excludes an allosteric control mechanism by hydrogencarbonate as it was found in crocodiles. Except in turtles a hemoglobin pattern with HbA and HbD sharing the same beta-subunits has been found only in birds. In comparison to other vertebrate hemoglobins there is a surprising similarity of the sequences to those of bird hemoglobins. alpha A- as well as alpha D-chains show larger homologies to chains of the same type in different species than alpha A- and alpha D-chains to each other in the same species. This indicates a duplication of the alpha-gene preceding the divergence of turtles and birds.

The expression of alpha D-chains in the hemoglobin of adult ostrich (Struthio camelus) and American rhea (Rhea americana). The different evolution of adult bird alpha A-, alpha D- and beta-chains

The hemoglobin of adult American rhea (Rhea americana) and ostrich (Struthio camelus) contains two components identified to be HbA (alpha 2A beta 2) and HbD (alpha 2D beta 2). The amino-acid sequence of alpha D-chains from HbD of adult American rhea and ostrich has been determined. The sequence was studied by Edman degradation of tryptic peptides and chemical cleavage products in a liquid phase sequencer. By homologous comparison with pheasant HbD (Phasianus colchicus colchicus), the alpha D-chains of American rhea differ by 28 amino-acid exchanges, the alpha D-chains of ostrich by 23 residues. These differences are higher than those observed for alpha A- as well as for beta-chains of HbA from the same species. The ratio of amino-acid exchanges for beta:alpha A:alpha D for American rhea and ostrich is found to be 1:5.5:6.5. At present the reason for the differences in evolution rates for the beta-, alpha A- and alpha D-chains of bird hemoglobins is still unclear.

Globin proteins of the normal and anemic duck

The red blood cells of normal adult ducks contain two main hemoglobins. The most abundant type, HbA, comprises approximately 80% of the total, with the remaining 20% being made up of HbD. An attempt was made to determine whether during hemolytic anemia a special alpha globin chain (alpha s) replaces the alpha chain of HbA found in normal animals. This special stress alpha globin, whose existence has been seriously questioned, was originally postulated to explain the sequence discrepancies obtained between alpha chains of normal and anemic chickens and ducks. Using gel electrophoresis, isoelectric focusing, and HPLC peptide mapping techniques no qualitative differences between the alpha A globins of normal and anemic animals were found. The nature of the beta globin chains present in adult ducks has also never been rigorously established. In this work, a variety of techniques, including HPLC, gel electrophoresis, and microcolumn amino acid analysis, were used to examine the beta chains from each hemoglobin. Using these methods, no differences were found between the beta globin chains of the two hemoglobins.

[Hemoglobins of reptiles. Expression of alpha-D-genes in the turtles, Chrysemys picta bellii and Phrynops hilarii (Testudines)]

The hemoglobins of two turtles (Testudines)--Chrysemys picta bellii (suborder Cryptodira) and Phrynops hilarii (suborder Pleurodira)--were investigated. In both specimens we found two hemoglobin components with two distinct alpha-chains. The alpha-chains of the component HbD of Chrysemys picta bellii and of the component CII of Phyrynops hilarii belong to the alpha D-type, which has so far been reported to occur only in birds. The complete amino-acid sequences of both alpha D-chains are presented. Our further investigations on hemoglobins of other reptiles (Crocodilia, Lacertilia, Serpentes) did not give any evidence for the expression of alpha D-globin genes in the species examined. These findings are discussed with especial reference to the physiology of respiration. It is supposed that alpha D-genes were of certain significance in earlier times. There are findings suggesting that alpha D-genes are embryonic genes with persistent expression in many adult birds and turtles.

The amino-acid sequence of alpha A- and beta-chains from the major hemoglobin component of American flamingo (Phoenicopterus ruber ruber)

The complete amino-acid sequence of alpha A- and beta-chains from the major hemoglobin component (HbA) of American Flamingo ( Phoenicopterus ruber ruber) is presented. The minor component (HbD) with alpha D-chains was detected in similar amounts (25%) as in chicken and pheasant hemoglobins. The comparison of American Flamingo and Greylag Goose (Anser anser) hemoglobins shows that alpha A-chains differ by 22 exchanges and beta-chains by only 4 exchanges. Two substitutions modify alpha 1 beta 1-contacts. Amino-acid replacements between American Flamingo and other bird hemoglobins are discussed.

The amino-acid sequence of Northern Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos platyrhynchos) hemoglobin

The complete amino-acid sequence of the major hemoglobin component (HbA) of the adult Northern Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos platyrhynchos) is presented. A minor component HbD was also detected but in low concentrations. The sequences of alpha A- and beta-chains were established by automatic Edman degradation on tryptic peptides and peptides obtained by specific chemical cleavages. The alignment of the peptides was performed by comparison with the alpha A- and beta-chains of Greylag Goose hemoglobin (Anser anser). Thereby an exchange of five positions in the alpha A-chains and three in the beta-chains was observed. No exchanges were found in the surroundings of the heme, in alpha 1 beta 2-contact points, or allosteric regulatory sites. In the alpha 1 beta 1-subunit interface one amino-acid residue in alpha A-chains and one in beta-chains are exchanged. By comparison with the amino-acid sequence derived from globin genes of Domestic Duck (Anas platyrhynchos), the alpha A-chains differ by two exchanges in the N-terminal region and the beta-chains by five exchanges the in C-terminal region. The comparison of the amino-acid sequence derived from alpha A-globin gene of the Moscovy Duck (Cairina moschata) and alpha A-chains of the Northern Mallard, shows only one replacement.

Determination of the primary sequence of the duck alpha D globin mRNA and comparison of all adult duck and chick globin mRNA sequences

The nucleotide sequence of the duck alpha D globin mRNA was determined. Its main feature is an exceptionally short 3' non-coding segment of only 46 nucleotides, placed after the coding sequence of 141 codons. The last of the 6 adult globin mRNA of duck and chicken being thus sequenced, a comparison of all their features has become possible. Comparing the duck alpha D mRNA to the related sequence in the chicken, we found greater homology than comparing it to the linked alpha A globin sequence in the same species. Extensive homology can be found for a same globin chain alpha A, alpha D or beta in between different avian species including also the goose and the ostrich; the avian alpha globin chains show a lower degree of sequence conservation in between species than the beta chains. In contrast, within one species the three globin sequences have further diverged. The divergence between the alpha A and alpha D globin within a same species point to individual functional specificity and hence independent evolution and suggest that a mechanism of 'gene conversion' did not operate in between the avian alpha globin genes. Two segments of the amino acid sequence which we named 'A alpha' and 'B alpha' remain homologous in all avian alpha globins; two other regions 'A beta' and 'B beta' are identical in between the beta globins. Segment A is placed at the 5' end of exon II, and segment B at the 3' end of the same exon; some amino acids in those segments are involved in the Heme binding site. Being almost identical in all know mammalian and avian globins of the alpha respectively the beta type, regions A and B seem to represent the best conserved sequences in adult globin mRNA maintained during the divergence of species.

[Primary structure of alpha and beta chains from the major hemoglobin component of the magpie goose (Anseranas semipalmata, Anatidae)]

The amino acid sequence of the alpha and beta chains from the major hemoglobin component (HbA) of Australian Magpie Goose (Anseranas semipalmata) is given. The minor component with the alpha D chains was detected, but only found in low concentrations. By homologous comparison, Greylag Goose hemoglobin (Anser anser) and Australian Magpie Goose alpha chains differ by 13 amino acids or 17 nucleotide (4 two point mutations) exchanges, beta chains by 6 exchanges. Seven alpha 1 beta 1 contacts are modified by substitutions in positions alpha 30-(B11)Glu leads to Gln, alpha 34(B15)Thr leads to Gln, alpha 35(B16)-Ala leads to Thr, alpha 36(B17)Tyr leads to Phe, beta 55(D6)Leu leads to Ile, beta 119(GH2)Ala leads to Ser and beta 125(H3)Glu leads to Asp. Further, one alpha 1 beta 2 contact point was changed in beta 39(C5)Gln leads to Glu. Mutation in this position, except in two abnormal human hemoglobins, was not found in any species. Amino acid exchanges between hemoglobin of Australian Magpie Goose and other birds are discussed.

The amino acid sequence of Canada goose (Branta canadensis) and mute swan (Cygnus olor) hemoglobins. Two different species with identical beta-chains

The amino acid sequences of the alpha- and beta-chains from the major hemoglobin component (HbA) of Canada goose (Branta canadensis) and mute swan (Cygnus olor) are given. The alpha-chains are of the alpha A-type, since alpha D-type was expressed but only found in low concentrations. By homologous comparison, greylag goose hemoglobin (Anser anser) and Canada goose hemoglobin alpha-chains differ by two exchanges, and beta-chains by three exchanges. A valine substitution for threonine was found at position alpha 34 (B15). This exchange is a result of a two point mutation. Thus, there are three nucleotide mutations in alpha-chains, as in beta-chains. Substitutions in positions alpha 34 (B15) and beta 125 (H3) have modified intersubunit contacts (alpha 1 beta 1-contacts). A comparison of mute swan hemoglobin with greylag goose hemoglobin shows four exchanges in alpha-chains and three in beta-chains. Canada goose and mute swan have identical beta-chains, while alpha-chains differ in two amino acids. One of these exchanges is implicated in one of the alpha 1 beta 1-contact points (alpha 34) where isoleucine substitution for valine was found. Comparison of hemoglobins from different species in the same tribe (Anserini) shows a high homology between Canada goose and mute swan hemoglobins.

Hemoglobins, XLV. The amino acid sequence of pheasant (Phasianus colchicus colchicus) hemoglobins

Pheasant hemoglobin is heterogenous and contains two components: a major one called HbA (70% of total amount) and a minor one called HbD (25% of total amount). HbA contains alpha A-chain, while HbD contains alpha D-chain. The amino acid sequences of both hemoglobins are given. The sequences were determined by automatic Edman degradation of tryptic peptides and peptides obtained by specific chemical cleavages. Between alpha A- and alpha D-chains a large difference of 57 amino acids was found. The primary structures of beta-chains from both hemoglobins are identical. The alpha A-chains contain no tryptophan, only one methionine and two cysteines. The alpha D-chains contain one tryptophan, four methionines and one cysteine. By homologous comparison with greylag goose hemoglobin the alpha A-chains differ by 19 exchanges, beta-chains by 7 exchanges. The alpha D-chains differ by 10 exchanges in comparison to alpha D-chains from chicken hemoglobin D. In the alpha A-chains valine was found to position alpha 63 (E12) as was the case for alpha-chains of barheaded goose. In the alpha D-chains however leucine was found in this position.