ABSTRACT
Pheasant hemoglobin is heterogenous and contains two components: a major one called HbA (70% of total amount) and a minor one called HbD (25% of total amount). HbA contains alpha A-chain, while HbD contains alpha D-chain. The amino acid sequences of both hemoglobins are given. The sequences were determined by automatic Edman degradation of tryptic peptides and peptides obtained by specific chemical cleavages. Between alpha A- and alpha D-chains a large difference of 57 amino acids was found. The primary structures of beta-chains from both hemoglobins are identical. The alpha A-chains contain no tryptophan, only one methionine and two cysteines. The alpha D-chains contain one tryptophan, four methionines and one cysteine. By homologous comparison with greylag goose hemoglobin the alpha A-chains differ by 19 exchanges, beta-chains by 7 exchanges. The alpha D-chains differ by 10 exchanges in comparison to alpha D-chains from chicken hemoglobin D. In the alpha A-chains valine was found to position alpha 63 (E12) as was the case for alpha-chains of barheaded goose. In the alpha D-chains however leucine was found in this position.
