A new haplotype of the β-globin gene complex, Hbb^w1, in Chinese wild mouse

Abstract

A new pattern was observed in the electrophoretic survey of the hemoglobin beta chain (Hbb) in Chinese wild mice, Mus musculus. The electrophoretic mobility of the major component of the new Hbb was identical to that of Hbb^s on cellulose acetate plate, although it was almost identical to that of Hbb^d or Hbb^p on acrylamide gel. This suggests that the major component of Chinese Hbb has a unique primary structure. A minor component of the new Hbb was completely different from that of the other three Hbb haplotypes well known. These results indicate that the Hbb-b1 and Hbb-b2 of the new Hbb haplotype, assigned Hbb^w1, are unique genes in their molecular structure. So far, Hbb^w1 has been observed in northwestern China.