Hb Baden (β18Val→Met) is a rare variant hemoglobin that has never been functionally or clinically characterized. We describe a Hb Baden heterozygote who exhibits normal growth and development, as well as age- and gender-appropriate hematological values. Surprisingly, in vitro analyses demonstrate that Hb Baden is relatively unstable and exhibits an abnormally high affinity for O₂. These properties are likely to affect the physiologies of individuals who inherit the β(Baden) mutation in trans to a determinant for either a functionally relevant hemoglobinopathy or a mild thalassemia. The data also provide insights into the function of the A-helix/AB-segment of β globin, supporting a structural model in which this poorly understood region serves as a scaffold that fixes the positions of other helices that directly impact β-globin function.
© 2010 Wiley-Liss, Inc.