Hemoglobin C disease has altered solubility properties similar to hemoglobin S disease.What accounts for this altered solubility?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Hemoglobin C disease is caused by a single amino acid substitution in which a polar amino acid (glutamic acid) is replaced by a nonpolar amino acid (lysine) in the beta-globin chain. This substitution results in the formation of abnormal hemoglobin C (HbC) which exhibits altered solubility properties similar to the abnormal hemoglobin S (HbS) in sickle cell disease. The substitution near the pocket where heme binds affects the interactions between the amino acids in the hemoglobin molecule and leads to a tendency for the HbC molecules to stick together and form aggregates, which can cause red blood cells to become stiff and malformed.

Hemoglobin C Disease Has Altered Solubility Properties Similar to Hemoglobin