Hemoglobin J_Oxford: Effects on Hemoglobin and Erythrocyte Function

Hemoglobin J_Oxford (α₂^{15 gly→asp} β₂^A) was found to constitute 20 per cent of the hemoglobin in eight members of an Italian-American family. In the heterozygous state, no clinical stigmata referable to the variant Hb were found. Erythrocyte morphology and survival were normal. No evidence of Hb instability was found. Oxygen-affinity studies of whole blood, whole hemolysates and isolated Hb J_Oxford were normal. A brief review of the literature on J hemoglobins is included.