Improved column-chromatographic isolation of glycosylated hemoglobin S.

We investigated glycosylated hemoglobin S by means of chromatography on Bio-Rex 70. The selected elution conditions were similar to those described by Trivelli et al. (N Engl J Med 284: 353-357, 1971), except for modified ionic strength and accurate temperature control. This enabled us to isolate a minor hemoglobin fraction whose properties, as determined by chromatography, electrophoresis, and two-dimensional maps of its tryptic peptides, were typical of a hemoglobin S tetramer with blocked N-terminal residues of the beta subunits. The colorimetric test indicated this to be a glycosylated hemoglobin. This procedure is notably improved over previous chromatographic techniques for isolating glycosylated hemoglobin S. Moreover, it can be easily used in any laboratories where Trivelli's method is routinely in use.