Polymorphism of feline β-globins studied by reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography

SUMMARY Objective To characterize the feline β-globin system with respect to the number and genetics of adult β-globin chains. Animals 84 domestic and purebred cats (9 breeds); 14 cats were mildly to severely anemic. For genetic analyses, 12 litters with 1 to 5 offspring for a total of 29 kittens. Procedure Feline globins from erythrocyte lysates were separated by reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography and analyzed on the basis of retention time and area of each β-globin peak. Mixing studies with half the amount of hemoglobin (Hb) from 2 cats were performed to assign the β-globin peaks in each cat. The Hb from 60 cats were also separated by standard isoelectric focusing methods. Results Heme and α- and β-globins were effectively separated by high-performance liquid chromatography. Although there was only 1 α-globin, a total of 6 β-globins (I through VI) were identified, with each cat having 1 to 4 β-globin chains. From analysis of the number of β-globins, their relative amounts, and Hb mixing studies, 17 β-globin patterns were observed. The β-globin pattern in healthy and anemic cats was identical. Family studies documented an autosomal codominant mode of inheritance of the adult β-globins and a linkage of 2 β-chains forming haplotypes. Conclusions Biochemical and genetic evidence for the greatest polymorphism of adult β-globins thus far described in any species is provided. A feline β-globin gene region with 2 linked β-globin gene loci and 2 and 5 alleles is proposed. Clinical Relevance Better understanding of feline Hb will likely be helpful for diagnosis of hemoglobinopathies in anemic cats. ( Am J Vet Res 1998;59:830–835)