The organization of hemoglobin in erythrocytes containing hemoglobin A or hemoglobin C

Abstract

Red cells containing hemoglobin C have been shown to behave as if they are more rigid than normal cells that contain hemoglobin A. Under some conditions the former cells contain inclusions that appear to be crystalline. This study shows, by X-ray scattering and diffraction, that the inclusions are crystalline. Inclusions are not seen when cells are studied in isotonic plasma; under these conditions no difference in intermolecular order could be detected between the two types of erythrocyte. X-ray scattering bands centered on 32 Å, 19 Å, and 13 Å, for both CHb and AHb solutions and cells, result from intramolecular order rather than intermolecular order.