Historical Tidbit: H. Franklin Bunn (July 7, 1935- )
Submitted by Alan D. Rogol, MD, Ph.D
Franklin Bunn, a hematologist noted (with Gabbay and Gallop) that the most abundant, fast-moving on electrophoresis, minor component of hemoglobin A, A1c previously described by Rahman (Clin Chim Acta 1968; 22:296) contained glucose (Science 1978; 200:21). It was attached to the N- terminus of the β-chain by a slow non-enzymatic condensation of glucose with the amino terminal amino group of the β chain (J Biol Chem 1979; 254:3892). This finding provided the rationale for using its quantitation as an index of longer-term (than individual glucose measurements) metabolic control in those with diabetes. This average index of blood glucose concentration over time became available to detect the state of diabetes metabolic control and the effectiveness of diabetes therapy.