THE KINETICS OF THE PERIODATE-SCHIFF REACTION OF HUMAN LEUKOCYTE HOMOGENATES

The periodate-Schiff (PAS) reaction of homogenized human leukocytes has been studied with a quantitative test tube method. The leukocytes contain glycogen, which gives a slow formation of chromogen during the periodate oxidation, and one or several more rapidly reacting, nonglycogen substances. The latter substances are quantitatively more important for the PAS reaction than glycogen. Nonglycogenic, rapidly reacting PAS-positive substances are present in a high concentration in the specific leukocyte granules. A considerable fraction of the rapidly reacting PAS-positive material in leukocyte homogenates can be extracted with lipid solvents.