Beta globin attached to the red cell cytoskeleton in hemoglobin H disease

Red blood cell ghosts and cytoskeletons from patients with hemoglobin H (Hb H) disease analyzed by Triton acid urea gel electrophoresis are shown here; the reference standard is normal (Hb A) hemolysate (lane 4). Alpha and beta globin bands are not found on normal red cell ghosts (lane 1) or their cytoskeletons (lane 5). Although both beta and alpha globin bands are attached to the Hb H ghosts (lanes 2 and 3), only beta globin bands are attached to the cytoskeleton (lanes 6 and 7).