Biosynthesis of glycosylated hemoglobins in the monkey

We have investigated the in vivo biosynthesis of the minor hemoglobin components in the rhesus monkey. The elution profile of rhesus hemolysate on BioRex 70 cation exchange resin was analogous to that of human hemolysate. The rhesus Hb Alc peak was identified with the TBA test, which revealed a carbohydrate content identical to that of human Hb A1c. A rhesus monkey was injected with autologous 55Fe-bound transferrin, and the specific activity of each of the minor and major components was followed for over 70 days. As previously shown in man, rhesus Hb alc accumulated specific activity almost linearly over the erythrocyte life-span, indicative of slow and continuous conversion of Hb A0 to Hb Alc. This study revealed two new findings. (1) The specific activity of rhesus Hb Alb was always significantly less than that of Hb Alc. This result suggested that HB Alb is made by further posttranslational modification of Hb Alc. (2) The first portion of rhesus Hb A0 to be eluted on BioRex 70 contained a significant amount of carbohydrate and lower initial specific radioactivity than did the latter portion. This unexpected heterogeneity in the major hemoglobin component reflects slow, nonenzymatic glycosylation at sites other than at the N-terminus of the beta-chain.