Hemoglobin subunit alpha 2 (HBA2)

Hemoglobin subunit alpha 2 is a globin protein encoded by the HBA2 gene on chromosome 16 and constitutes one of the two nearly identical alpha-globin gene products (together with HBA1). Two alpha subunits (from HBA1 and HBA2) combine with two beta subunits to form hemoglobin A (HbA), the most prevalent form of adult hemoglobin, responsible for oxygen transport in red blood cells. Alpha-globin also partners with gamma- or delta-globin in fetal and minor adult hemoglobins. Mutations or deletions in HBA2 (and/or HBA1) lead to various forms of alpha-thalassemia, ranging from asymptomatic carriers to fatal hydrops fetalis, depending on the number and kind of affected alleles. The primary biological function of alpha-globin is high-efficiency oxygen binding and delivery, with loss-of-function variants resulting in severe systemic hypoxia and anemia

Other names

Hemoglobin subunit alphaHemoglobin alpha chainAlpha-globinAlpha 2 globinHBA-T2HBHHBA1HemopressinECYT7HBA_HUMANhemoglobin, alpha 2mutant hemoglobin alpha 2 globin chainhemoglobin-alpha locus 2major alpha-globin locus

Not applicable (HBA2 is not a direct therapeutic drug target but is impacted by drugs modifying hemoglobin’s oxygen affinity, though not specifically or selectively through HBA2)