Recombinant HBA Antibody / Hemoglobin alpha

Hemoglobin (Hgb) is coupled to four iron-binding, methene-linked tetrapyrrole rings (heme) . The alpha and beta globin loci determine the basic Hgb structure. The globin portion of Hgb consists of two alpha chains and two beta chains arranged in pairs forming a tetramer. Each of the four globin chains covalently associates with a heme group. The bonds between alpha and beta chains are weaker than between similar globin chains, thereby forming a cleavage plane that is important for oxygen binding and release. High affinity for oxygen occurs upon relaxation of the alpha1-beta2 cleavage plane. When the two alpha1-beta2 interfaces are closely bound, Hgb has a low affinity for oxygen. Hb A, which contains two alpha chains plus two beta chains, comprises 97% of total circulating hemoglobin. The remaining 3% of total circulating hemoglobin is comprised of Hb A-2, which consists of two alpha chains plus two delta chains, and fetal hemoglobin (Hb F), which consists of two alpha chains together with two gamma chains.