Amino acid sequence of alpha- and beta-polypeptide chains of turkey (Meleagris gallopavo) hemoglobin

Two hemoglobin components are recognized in erythrocytes of the adult turkey (Meleagris gallopavo). We determined the amino acid sequences of turkey alpha A-, alpha D- and beta-globin from intact globin chains and chemical cleavage fragments. The sequences are highly similar to the hemoglobin of the Phasianidae, chicken, Japanese quail and pheasant. Turkey and pheasant beta-globin are identical. The amino acid sequence of turkey alpha A-globin differs by only one residue from chicken alpha A-globin. Phylogeny trees from alpha A-, alpha D- and beta-globin were constructed by the neighbor-joining method. Although the trees generated from alpha A- and beta-globin were similar, that from turkey alpha D-globin differed.