Isolation of chicken hemoglobin mRNA and synthesis of complementary DNA

Chicken globin mRNA has been purified and partially characterized. Globin-specific sequences are found primarily as 9 S RNA, but also are found with ribosomal RNA, preferentially the 28 S moiety. The chicken globin mRNA preparation has been translated in the wheat germ and Krebs ascites cell-free systems. The products have been identified by sodium dodecyl sulfate-gel electrophoresis as the alpha- and beta-globin polypeptides. The globin mRNA is resolved into two asymmetric peaks by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis in 98% formamide. The minor rapidly migrating peak consists primarily of alpha message while the major slowly migrating peak contains a mixture of alpha and beta messages. The synthesis of cDNA has been optimized and the products analyzed by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis in 98% formamide. The products consist primarily of full copy transcripts that can be resolved into three discrete species.