Authentic beta-globin mRNA sequences in homozygous betaO-thalassemia.

In a patient with homozygous betaO-thalassemia in whom studies of reticulocyte hemoglobin synthesis showed no beta-globin chain synthesis in vivo and in vitro, molecular hybridization studies revealed RNA sequences complementary to beta-globin cDNA. The fact that these sequences were authentic beta-globin mRNA was shown by fingerprint analysis of T1 ribonuclease-digested mRNA and by sequencing of oligonucleotides unique to beta-globin mRNA. The beta-mRNA that failed to direct beta-globin chain synthesis was not detectably shortened or degraded and contained poly(A) sequences.