Abnormal Production and Structure of Hemoglobin Molecules
A special issue of International Journal of Molecular Sciences (ISSN 1422-0067). This special issue belongs to the section "Biochemistry".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 28 February 2026 | Viewed by 122
Special Issue Editor
Interests: sickle cell disease; pulmonary hypertension; gene polymorphisms; gene sequencing
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
Hemoglobin, the heterotetramer of red blood cells, is composed of two pairs of similar globin chains attached to iron-containing heme and is a unique molecule in many ways. Firstly, its function, the task of delivering oxygen to the body’s tissues, is fundamental. Secondly, the genes coding for globin chains were among the first human genes to be sequenced. The molecular mechanisms underlying disorders caused by mutations in these genes have been extensively studied and have represented a model for all genetic diseases. Finally, thalassemias and sickle cell disease, the most common inherited globin disorders, also represent the most common inherited monogenic disorders worldwide. More than 2000 disease-causative mutations in globin genes have been reported. These can result in either reduced production of globin chains, leading to disorders known as thalassemias, or alterations to the structure of hemoglobin, leading to a variety of clinical phenotypes, according to the site and biochemical properties of the variant molecule, even though mutations leading to combined quantitative and qualitative defects can also occur. Structural alterations to the globin chains can affect stability, the interaction of globin chains among themselves or with heme, oxygen affinity, or even multiple functions. The aim of this Special Issue is to share knowledge on globin gene variants resulting in thalassemias or other hemoglobinopathies, focusing on molecular mechanisms, genotype and phenotype correlations, and possible targets for therapeutic interventions.
Dr. Maria Dimopoulou
Guest Editor
Manuscript Submission Information
Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.
Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. International Journal of Molecular Sciences is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.
Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. There is an Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal. For details about the APC please see here. Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.
Keywords
- hemoglobin
- hemoglobinopathies
- thalassemias
- sickle cell disease
- structural hemoglobin variants
- alpha globin
- beta globin
- globin chain genes
- unstable hemoglobins
- oxygen affinity
Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue
- Ease of navigation: Grouping papers by topic helps scholars navigate broad scope journals more efficiently.
- Greater discoverability: Special Issues support the reach and impact of scientific research. Articles in Special Issues are more discoverable and cited more frequently.
- Expansion of research network: Special Issues facilitate connections among authors, fostering scientific collaborations.
- External promotion: Articles in Special Issues are often promoted through the journal's social media, increasing their visibility.
- Reprint: MDPI Books provides the opportunity to republish successful Special Issues in book format, both online and in print.
Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.
