More than hemoglobin - the unexpected diversity of globins in vertebrate red blood cells.

ABSTRACT: In many multicellular organisms, oxygen is transported by respiratory proteins, which are globins in vertebrates, between respiratory organs and tissues. In jawed vertebrates, eight globins are known which are expressed in a highly tissue-specific manner. Until now, hemoglobin (Hb) had been agreed to be the only globin expressed in vertebrate erythrocytes. Here, we investigate for the first time the mRNA expression of globin genes in nucleated and anucleated erythrocytes of model vertebrate species by quantitative real-time reverse transcription PCR (qRT-PCR). Surprisingly, we found transcripts of the whole gnathostome globin superfamily in RBCs. The mRNA expression levels varied among species, with Hb being by far the dominant globin. Only in stickleback, a globin previously thought to be

SUBMITTER: Gotting M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4393193 | biostudies-literature | 2015 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature