Hemoglobin subunit theta-1 is aprotein that in humans is encoded by theHBQ1gene.[5][6]
Theta-globin mRNA is found in humanfetal erythroid tissue but not in adulterythroid or other nonerythroid tissue. The theta-1 gene may be expressed very early in embryonic life, perhaps sometime before 5 weeks. Theta-1 is a member of the human alpha-globin gene cluster that involves five functional genes and two pseudogenes. The order of genes is: 5' -zeta - pseudozeta -mu - pseudoalpha-1 -alpha-2 -alpha-1 -theta-1 - 3'. Research supports a transcriptionally active role for the gene and a functional role for the peptide in specific cells, possibly those of early erythroid tissue.[6]
Giardina B, Messana I, Scatena R, Castagnola M (1995). "The multiple functions of hemoglobin".Crit. Rev. Biochem. Mol. Biol.30 (3):165–96.doi:10.3109/10409239509085142.PMID7555018.
Gonzalez-Redondo JM, Han IS, Gu YC, Huisman TH (1988). "Nucleotide sequence of the human theta 1-globin gene".Biochem. Genet.26 (3–4):207–11.doi:10.1007/BF00561460.PMID3408475.S2CID19352648.
