Characterization of hemoglobin lepore variants by advanced mass-spectrometric procedures.

We describe an analytical protocol for characterizing the molecular structure of hemoglobin (Hb) Lepore variants by using two different mass-spectrometric approaches. The first method consists of direct examination of the chromatographically separated hybrid globins by electro-spray mass spectrometry; the variant Lepore globin is identified through the accurate determination of its molecular mass. Alternatively, the anomalous globins are digested with trypsin and their structures are determined by fast atom bombardment mass-spectrometric analysis of the peptide mixture. The application of this procedure to the identification of Hb Lepore Boston and Hb Lepore Baltimore is described.