[Moleculo-genetic study of beta-thalassemia heterogenity in the USSR]

Synthesis of the beta-globin protein was completely absent in some patients (beta 0-thalassemia); in the other group of patients beta-globins were synthesized although at the markedly decreased rate (beta +-thalassemia). Content of beta-globin mRNA decreased in beta+-thalassemia but considerable amount of the mRNA was found in beta 0-thalassemia. A procedure is developed for analysis of the globin mRNA ratio, which involves immobilization of the RNA on diaminobenzylhydroxymethylated paper and hybridization using highly labelled DNA of recombinated plasmides containing synthetic alpha- and beta-globin genes. Restrictional mapping of the DNA globin genes was carried out in some patients.