An automated method for hemoglobin analysis using mass spectrometry (original) (raw)

Hemoglobin, the most abundant protein in red blood cell, is the carrier of oxygen from lungs to tissues. Hemoglobin is a tetrameric protein, consisting four globin chains where each of the four globin chains is non-covalently linked to a prosthetic oxygen-binding heme group and Fe+2 ion tetradentated centrally by porphyrin ring. The various globin chain synthesis is controlled by different genes expression at different stages of life. In a normal healthy adult, approximately 95% of total hemoglobin is HbA0 (α2β2) with 2-3% being HbA2 (α2δ2) and about 1% is fetal hemoglobin HbF (α22). Mutation in globin gene may lead to substitution of an amino acid in globin polypeptide chain which results hemoglobin variant. In addition to point mutation, hemoglobin variants may exist with deletion/fusion in globin chains. Many of these hemoglobin variants lead to healthcare problem such as sickle cell disease, erythrocytosis, cyanosis etc. Thalassemia is an autosomal recessive disorder, involves ...