A simple and rapid method for determination of G gamma:A gamma globin chain synthetic ratio

A simple and rapid method for the determination of the G gamma- to A gamma-globin chain relative synthetic ratios is described. This technic uses 35S-methionine as the labeled amino acid and introduces a simple procedure for Hb-F purification. The chain separation is based on slab gel isoelectric focusing, and the gel after visualization of protein bands without staining is cut and solubilized in periodic acid, and the radioactivity is counted. This method can be applied in blood samples with low Hb-F levels, and as many as 20 samples can be analyzed at one time. The method was found to yield the expected synthetic ratio, and its reproducibility and repeatability were found to be high.