Molecular characterization of hemoglobin C in Thailand

We describe hematologic and DNA characterization of 12 hemoglobin C heterozygotes and three compound heterozygotes for hemoglobin C and hemoglobin E found in Thailand. Amplification and DNA analysis of genomic DNA by the polymerase chain reaction procedure permitted the identification of the C mutation at codon 6 of -globin gene ( 6; GAGAAG). -Globin gene haplotype analysis demonstrated that all C globin genes detected in these Thai individuals were associated with the haplotype (+ - - - - - +), indicating a non-African origin of this abnormal hemoglobin in Thailand. On routine hemoglobin typing, hemoglobin C is usually mistakenly identified as hemoglobin E because of theirs similar mobilities on cellulose acetate electrophoresis. The simple DNA assay for hemoglobin C based on an allele-specific polymerase chain reaction for accurate diagnosis of hemoglobin C was therefore developed.