Sequence of human haptoglobin cDNA: evidence that the α and β subunits are coded by the same mRNA

Abstract
We have isolated and sequenced a cDNA clone coding for human haptoglobin. Our sequence shows that haptoglobin is very likely synthesized as a single polypeptide chain which is then cleaved at an Axg residue to generate its two characteristic α and β subunits. Southern blot analysis suggests that there are at least two copies of the haptoglobin gene per haploid genome.