Increase in fast hemoglobin concentration after incubation with acetaldehyde detected by an electrophoretic method

Incubation of acetaldehyde with hemoglobin has been shown by chromatographic methods to result in an increase in fast hemoglobin. We have studied this increase in fast hemoglobin concentration by a gel electrophoretic method. Increases in fast hemoglobin concentration are detected following incubation with concentrations of 100 microM acetaldehyde and no further increase in yield occurs with concentrations greater than 7 mM acetaldehyde. The reaction is complete within 5 hr and the product is stable with a half-life of greater than 12 days.