High-Altitude Respiration of Birds. The Primary Structures of the αD-Chains of the Bar-headed Goose(Anser indicus),the Greylag Goose(Anser anser)and the Canada Goose(Branta canadensis)

Abstract
The primary structures of the .alpha.D-chains of the minor component Hb D of Anser indicus, Anser anser and Branta canadensis are presented. Following chain separation by RP-HPLC, the amino-acid sequences were established by automatic Edman degradation of the globin chains and the tryptic peptides. The three chains show a high degree of homology. For the high altitude respiration the .alpha.1.beta.1 interface at position .alpha.119 is important. For the Bar-headed Goose a mechanism for high altitude respiration involving both Hb A having alanine at position 119 and Hb D having proline at that position is suggested. Furthermore, a possible genetical development of the avian .alpha.D-gene expression based on a new B.alpha.-box mutation in the three geese and an unusual 5'' splice junction (GT/GC-transition) in the duck gene is discussed. We consider the possibility that the .alpha.D-gene is an intermediate between a functional gene, reduced in its expression, and a pseudogene.

This publication has 16 references indexed in Scilit: