Amino Acid Sequence of Kalinowaski's Tinamou (Nothoprocta Kalinowskii) Hemoglobin and the Rate of Evolution of Bird αD-Globin

Abstract

Two hemoglobin components are recognized in erythrocytes of the adult Tinamou. We determined the amino acid sequences of Tinamou α^D-, α^A-, and β-globins from intact globin chains and several chemically cleaved fragments. A remarkable feature of Tinamou hemoglobin was a deletion in the α^D-globin chain. This has not been reported in the literature, except in pigeon embryonic α^D-globin. The amino acid sequences of Tinamou globin were highly similar to those of Ostrich and Rhea hemoglobin. Comparison between Tinamou, Ostrich, and Rhea that suggested the evolution speed of globin, α^D = α^A > β, was related with the early appearance birds. The important residues in Tinamou hemoglobin as the heme contact and oxygen binding regions were highly conserved in other species.