Embryonic hemoglobin
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Embryonic hemoglobin is a protein transcribed by the HBE1 gene in embryonic cells. It is produced in the blood islands in the embryonic yolk sac during the mesoblastic stage (1st week of pregnancy till end of pregnancy). The protein is commonly referred to as Hemoglobin ε or HbE, and is mainly composed of two α and two Δ chains.
Below is a table describing the chain components of each type of human hemoglobin.
| Hemoglobin Type | Abbreviation | Chains |
|---|---|---|
| Embryonic hemoglobin | HbE | 2 α + 2 Δ |
| Fetal hemoglobin | HbF | 2 α + 2 γ |
| Adult hemoglobin | HbA | 2 α + 2 β |
