Haemoglobin Synthesis in Reticulocytes of Prenatal f/f Anaemic Mice

Summary. SUMMARY. Prenatal reticulocytes of f/f mice utilize less than half as much exogenous iron for haem synthesis as normal prenatal reticulocytes. The intracellular pool of iron available for haem synthesis is less in f/f prenatal reticulocytes than in normal cells (0.2 μg/107 f/f reticulocytes and 0.5 μg/107 f/+ reticulocytes, on Day 18). Uptake of iron by f/f prenatal reticulocytes is normal, but incorporation of bound iron into haem is reduced. Incorporation of glycine into porphyrins relative to that into protein is reduced in f/f prenatal reticulocytes. Addition of haemin to cultured f/f and f/+ prenatal reticulocytes stimulates protein synthesis similarly in both genotypes. Reticulocytes produced by phenylhydrazine treatment of adult f/f mice have normal intracellular iron pools, normal utilization of exogenous iron, and normal incorporation of glycine into porphyrin and protein.