Defective mRNA levels are responsible for a beta-thalassemia phenotype associated with Hb Federico II, a novel haemoglobin variant (beta 106 (G8) Leu->Val).

This study provides the first experimental evidence that a single nucleotide mutation within the coding region of the β-globin gene affects mRNA expression levels and causes a β-thalassemic defect. Furthermore, our data suggest that other regions besides the 3′UTR, whose role in constitutively regulation of this mechanism has been recently identified, may contribute to the stabilization of β-globin mRNA and could, therefore, help to characterize the molecular basis of thalassemic hemoglobinopathies.