The expression of hϵ-globin is up-regulated in mice with β-globin gene defects. (A) Representative analyses of transgenic hϵ-globin expression in nonthalassemic and thalassemic mice. Intact PBS-washed peripheral blood cells from hϵ-expressing mice were incubated with [³⁵S]methionine, hemolysates resolved on a Triton-acid-urea gel, and autoradiographs exposed. The mβ-globin genotypes for mice from independent ϵ1 and ϵ2 transgenic lines are indicated at top (normal, +/+; heterozygous knockout, +/−; and homozygous knockout, −/−). Individual globins are identified to the left. (B) The expression of hϵ-globin is induced in β-thalassemic mice. The levels of hϵ globin in individual mice, normalized to the levels of endogenous mα globin, are plotted (•). The average values for mice with either of 3 different mβ-globin genotypes are indicated; error bars represent 1 SD. (C,D) Pulse-chase analyses of hϵ-globin protein in nonthalassemic and thalassemic mice. [³⁵S]methionine-labeled peripheral blood cells from hϵ-expressing mice were washed, then resuspended in nonisotopic media for defined intervals (indicated). Hemolysates were resolved by Triton-acid-urea electrophoresis, and the ratios of the hϵ and mα band intensities plotted. The mβ-globin genotypes of animals used in each study are indicated.