EFFECT OF DBA ON HEMOGLOBIN SS CELLS AND HEMOGLOBIN BIOSYNTHESIS11The research was supported by NIH grants CA 11572, HL 19324, and HL 15161

The present studies have shown that 3,4-dihydro-2,2-dimethyl-2H-1-benzopyran-6-butyric acid (DBA), which does not bind covalently with hemoglobin, inhibits the loss of potassium ions from hemoglobin SS cells, and inhibits the binding of newly synthesized β S and α chains to membranes from these cells. This is the first report of an antisickling agent which does not modify hemoglobin covalently but may affect membrane-cytoskeletal interactions.