Heterogeneity of human haptoglobin α chains detected by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis

Abstract

The protein spots representing the haptoglobin α1F, α1S and α2 chains in two-dimensional gels of human plasma samples representative of the six common haptoglobin phenotypes were identified by comparing their position with those of purified haptoglobin and distinguished from other spots in the vicinity by comparison with plasma with undetectably low levels of haptoglobin. Silver staining indicated that the α1F chain was represented by one spot in subtypes 1F-1F, 1F-1S and 1F-2, the α1S chain by three spots in subtypes 1S-1S, 1F-1S and 1S-2 and the α2 chain by six spots in 1F-2, 1S-2 and 2–2. © 1987, Cambridge University Press. All rights reserved.