Abstract
The relation between the optical properties (absorption and circular dichroic (CD) spectra) and function of hemoglobin was investigated on abnormal hemoglobins found mainly in Japan. Hb Tokuyama and Agenogi, with no altered functions, show the same optical properties as those of Hb A. Hb Tochigi and Hb Hiroshima, though accompanied by clinical symptoms, have almost similar spectrophotometrical as well as functional behaviors to those of Hb A. In contrast to these abnormal hemoglobins, Hb Rainier and Ube 1, which have lost most of the cooperativity, show absorption and CD spectra distinctly different from those of Hb A.
