The screening of alpha- and beta-globin chain variants with isoelectric focusing

A simple isoelectric focusing technique is presented for the screening of alpha- and beta-globin chain variants on polyacrylamide gel in the presence of 8 M urea. No detergent was used. Variants focused at discrete pH values, depending on the charge variation (-2, -1, 0, +1 or +2) introduced by the mutation. A linear relationship was evidenced between the charge variation and the shift of the apparent isoelectric point of the variants. The practical interest of this procedure is illustrated.