Levels of human/murine chimeric Hb species in the red cells of β-thalassemic mice containing human globin transgenes.

Cellulose acetate Hb electrophoresis gels were used to separate the different Hb species as indicated by the arrows to the right. Lane 1 represents a sample from a normal mouse with the single Hb pattern in which mα₂mβ^s₂ and mα₂mβ^t₂ run together as a single band. Lane 2 represents a sample from a β-thalassemic mouse that has the diffuse Hb pattern, characterized by an uppermost mα₂mβ^minor₂ species and a faster migrating mα₂mβ^maj₂species. Lanes 3 through 5 are samples from β-thalassemic mice with a human ankyrin promoter–γ-globin transgene (strain A); lanes 6 through 8 are samples from β-thalassemic mice with an hβ-spectrin promoter–γ-globin transgene (strain B); lanes 9 through 11 are samples from β-thalassemic mice that are homozygous for the β-spectrin promoter–γ-globin transgene; lanes 12 through 14 are samples from β-thalassemic mice with the hβ-globin locus YAC (strain D). The identities of the chimeric Hb species mα₂hγ₂ and mα₂hβ₂ at the indicated positions were previously confirmed independently by acid-urea gel electrophoresis.37