Hemoglobin Baylor (alpha2beta281(EF5) leu replaced by Arg)--an unstable mutant with high oxygen affinity.

The amino acid substitution in a new hemoglobin variant, Hb Baylor (alpha2beta281 (EF5) Leu replaced by Arg), has been determined by application of column chromatography and amino acid analysis of the tryptic peptides. The hemoglobin is somewhat unstable and it has a high oxygen affinity. The propositus shows the opposing hematologic effects of these two properties--the instability being associated with increased destruction, and the high O2 affinity with increased production, of erythrocytes.