Solubilization of hemoglobin S by other hemoglobins

The polymerization of mixtures of Hb S with hemoglobins A, A2, and F has been investigated by analysis of the proportions of S and non-S hemoglobin both in the supernate and in the pellet after centrifugation. In all cases the non-S hemoglobin was incorporated into the polymer even in the absence of hybrids in the order A > A2 > F. The solubility of Hb S is substantially increased by the other hemoglobins, especially by Hb F, which would account for its antisickling effect. It appears that the excluded volume effect of the other hemoglobin on Hb S is largely counterbalanced by the solubilizing effect arising from the interaction between the two hemoglobins in solution. The ability of hybrid hemoglobins to gel was demonstrated directly with tetramers in which alpha beta s dimers were covalently linked to alpha beta A, alpha delta A2, and alpha gamma F dimers.