Location and bond type of intermolecular contacts in the polymerisation of haemoglobin S

Abstract
The solubility of 14 hybrid Hb [human] composed of .alpha. chains with a single substitution and .beta. chains from HbS was compared with that of sickle Hb. A substantial reduction in the insolubility of native deoxyHb S results from surface mutations in certain regions of the .alpha. chain while changes in other areas have no effect. The chemical nature of the substitution is decisive and points to the type of intermolecular bonding at several loci.