Importance

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Abstract

Cysteine substitution mutants of alpha and/or beta globin mutants are produced by recombinant DNA techniques and used in the construction, intracellularly or otherwise, of mutant hemoglobins in which alpha- and beta-globin like subunits are crosslinked by disulfide bonds. Solutions of these mutant hemoglobins are used as blood substitutes. Preferably, these mutant hemoglobins contain further mutations which reduce their affinity for oxygen. Hemoglobins are preferably obtained by recombinant DNA techniques. Both alpha and beta globin chains can now be readily expressed, making possible the commercial production of wholly artificial hemoglobin, whether conventional or mutant in form. Solutions of wholly artificial hemoglobins are also used as blood substitutes. Expression of the alpha glolbin gene was substantially improved by means of a beta globin gene 'header'.

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First Claim