Sickle Cell/Hemoglobin Biochemistry Questions: 1. Hydroxyurea inhibits cell divi

Question

Sickle Cell/Hemoglobin Biochemistry Questions:

1. Hydroxyurea inhibits cell division and was first developed as an anticancer therapy. It also stimulates the expression of fetal hemoglobin (HbF) in developing red blood cells. Propose a mechanism (in a sentence or two) explaining how this might be beneficial for adults, but not young children, with sickle cell disease.

2. When red blood cells are infected with Plasmodium, the parasite that causes malaria, the parasites metabolic activity lowers levels of erythrocyte oxygen and cytoplasmic pH. Explain how this might affect hemoglobin with the HbS variant.

3. Native gel electrophoresis is a procedure for separating proteins, where an electric current is applied to non-denatured proteins. Different proteins migrate through the gel at differing rates, dependent on both mass and charge of the protein. Since most proteins have an overall negative charge, the majority migrate from the cathode (-) toward the anode (+) end of the gel

(in electrophoresis anions migrate to the anode or + pole, cations migrate to the cathode or – pole. Do not confuse with battery terminology which is different).

HbS migrates more slowly than HbA. Why?

Could such electrophoresis be used to diagnose and distinguish between sickle cell trait, and sickle cell disease? Explain

Explanation / Answer

Q.No 1

The advanced treatment of sickle cell disease is Hydroxyurea. This treatment should be decrease severe painful episodes, hospitalizations, number of blood transfusions, and the acute chest syndrome in adults. In children, there is a special type of haemoglobin is present in blood, called as haemoglobin F (HbF) which protects the sickle haemoglobin (HbS). Hydroxyurea reducing the amount HbS made and increasing the amount of blood HbF in children.

Related Questions

Navigate

• Browse (All)
• Browse S
• Subjects

Integrity-first tutoring: explanations and feedback only — we do not complete graded work. Learn more.