Acetylation of sickle cell hemoglobin by aspirin.

Incubation of HbS (or HbA) with aspirin leads to incorporation of acetyl groups into the protein. Incorporation was followed by the use of aspirin labeled with (14)C in the acetyl group. The acetylated hemoglobins show an increase in oxygen affinity compared to the parent proteins. If acetylation also occurs in vivo, administration of aspirin might ameliorate the severity of sickle cell disease.