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THIOL DISTRIBUTION IN THE PLASMAS OF NATIVE AUSTRALIAN MAMMALIA
Author(s) -
Fantl P
Publication year - 1971
Publication title -
australian journal of experimental biology and medical science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.999
H-Index - 104
eISSN - 1440-1711
pISSN - 0004-945X
DOI - 10.1038/icb.1971.57
Subject(s) - thiol , albumin , chemistry , plasma , blood proteins , biochemistry , quantum mechanics , physics
Summary The thiol concentration in blood plasma was determined by an exchange with di(carboxy‐2‐nitrophenyl)‐5,5′‐disulphide. The thiol concentration in the plasma of the monotremata:platypus and echidna was lower than in the plasma of the marsupalia: brush‐tail possum, ring‐tail possum, wombat, parma wallaby and native cat. Non‐protein thiol compounds were present, without significant differences, in all the plasmas of the above animals, but the mercaptalbumin concentration of the monotremata was very low, although the total protein and albumin concentration was as high as in the plasma of old world mammalia. The distribution of thiol compounds in the plasma of the marsupalia was similar to that of old world mammalia. The reactivity of mercaptalbumin of wombat's plasma in the disulphide exchange reaction was practically identical at pH 6·5 and 7·8, whereas the mercaptalbumin of brush‐tail possum plasma showed marked pH dependence. The observed mercaptalbumin characteristics suggest certain phases in the evolution of marsupalia.