globin chain synthesis - drlmorice

[ArchivalUser]

There are two alpha genes on chromosome 11. How is that translated into the alpha chain? does each gene encode a seperate alpha chain, or do the products of alpha-1 and alpha-2 genes combine to form one alpha chain.

please help, even if it is just to direct me to a resource with the answer

[ArchivalUser]

also what is the expression of these genes? is both the maternal and paternal expressed or is one switched off. Sorry, our hematology lecturer taught this really badly so now I am having difficulty getting my head around it

[ArchivalUser]

No worries, just figured it out.

[ArchivalUser]

Please, share, drlmorice. What did you figure out?

[ArchivalUser]

As far as I am aware, alpha 1 gene and alpha 2 genes code for two proteins which both are combined in post translational modification to form the alpha chain.

The single beta gene codes for the beta globin chain.

Following this, the completed alpha chain and the beta chain come together and form a strong hydrophobic bond thus creating an αβ dimer.

Two of these αβ dimer then come together (held by weaker ionic bonds) to form αβαβ