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STUDIES ON β TRACE PROTEIN
Author(s) -
Penny R,
Osserman EF
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.1971.9
Subject(s) - neuraminidase , sialic acid , glycoprotein , blood proteins , biochemistry , chemistry , biology , electrophoresis , neuraminic acid , size exclusion chromatography , pancreas , enzyme , microbiology and biotechnology
Summary A urinary protein, ultimately identified as β trace protein, was observed in apparently increased quantities in the urine of a patient with a plasma cell dyscrasia. Tissue extract examinations revealed β protein in normal kidney, brain, fimbriae of fallopian tubes, testis, leucoeytes (both normal and leukaemic), pancreas and ovary. This protein was also demonstrated in concentrated normal serum in Cohn Fractions IV‐4 and IV‐5, 6. Gel filtration experiments indieate a molecular size for βtace protein of the same order of magnitude as immunoglobulin light chains; bowever, these two proteins, though similar in electrophoretic behaviour, are unrelated antigenically. Electrophoretic mobility of β trace protein is altered on removal of sialic acid by neuraminidase treatment; difference in mobility with origin of sample may be attributable to different amounts of carbohydrate in the molecule. Attempts to identify β trace protein as a common enzyme were unsuccessful.