The protein component of human brain thromboplastin

The protein component of human brain tissue thromboplastin (factor III) has been purified by deoxycholate (DOC) extraction, ultracentrifugation, gel filtration and finally repeated preparative polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PGE) in the presence of sodium dodecylsulphate (SDS). The final preparations gave one band in analytical PGE. Reduced and alkylated protein appeared as a band of molecular weight about 53 000 in SDS-PGE.The protein had a low solubility in aqueous solutions in the absence of detergents. When recombined with an optimal amount of the phospholipid fraction of tissue thromboplastin (fraction B) the procoagulant thromboplastin activity was regained. Neither alone nor after recombination with phospholipid did the protein catalyze the hydrolysis of aminoacyl-β-naphthylamides or casein.     

Disaggregation of adenylate cyclase during polyacrylamide-gel electrophoresis in mixtures of ionic and non-ionic detergents

1. Adenylate cyclase [ATP pyrophosphate-lyase (cyclizing), EC 4.6.1.1] solubilized from the rat liver plasma membrane with 1% Lubrol PX and partially purified by gel filtration in buffer containing 0.01% Lubrol PX was physically characterized by polyacrylamide-gel electrophoresis. 2. The molecular radius determined for the partially purified enzyme was 4.9nm, compared with the value of 3.9nm obtained for the enzyme before gel filtration. 3. This difference, representing an approximate doubling of the molecular volume of the enzyme, implied that aggregation with itself or other proteins had occurred during partial purification. 4. Aggregation was not reversed by electrophoresis in the presence of high Lubrol concentrations. 5. Substitution of deoxycholate or N-dodecylsarcosinate for Lubrol PX either for solubilization or during electrophoresis led to poorer resolution of membrane proteins at concentrations giving greater than 70% loss of enzyme activity. 6. Partially purified adenylate cyclase was electrophoresed in the presence of mixed micelles of Lubrol PX and deoxycholate or Lubrol PX and N-dodecylsarcosinate. Different mixtures were examined simultaneously in a suitable apparatus. 7. Electrophoresis in the presence of 0.1% Lubrol plus 0.03% deoxycholate decreased the molecular radius of the cyclase to 4.0nm, with greater than 90% recovery of enzymic activity. The net charge of the enzyme was also increased, indicating ionic detergent binding. 8. With 0.1% Lubrol plus 0.03% N-dodecylsarcosinate the molecular radius was 4.3nm, recovery approx. 50% and net charge similar to that seen in Lubrol plus deoxycholate. 9. The resolution of cyclase from bulk protein, on an analytical scale, was improved in the presence of detergent mixtures, as compared with resolution in Lubrol alone. 10. The results demonstrate the usefulness of polyacrylamide-gel electrophoresis to detect and overcome aggregation problems with membrane proteins and suggest that detergent mixtures in specific ratios may be useful in the purification of adenylate cyclase and other intrinsic membrane proteins.     

Tissue and whole-body protein synthesis in immature Zucker rats and their relationship to protein deposition.

Lipoprotein(a) was purified by agarose-gel chromatography from human plasma from which lipoproteins of Sf greater than 0 had been removed either by sequential or by density-gradient ultracentrifugation. After delipidation, the apoprotein B of this lipoprotein was analysed by sodium dodecyl sulphate/polyacrylamide-gel electrophoresis. It could not be distinguished from the apoprotein B of low-density lipoproteins (rho 1.019-1.063 g/ml). A significant increase in the concentration of apoprotein B in plasma from which the Sf greater than 0 lipoproteins had been removed was observed in six subjects 4 h after a fatty meal.     

Extraction and detergent/lipid activation of dolichol kinase

The CTP-dependent dolichol kinase from bovine liver microsomes was optimally extracted using either 0.5% sodium deoxycholate or 0.5% Triton X-100 containing 0.5 M NH4Cl. All activity was found in the supernatant fraction following high-speed centrifugation. This fraction was depleted of phospholipid (phospholipid remaining, less than 5% of total) by gel chromatography of the 0.5% deoxycholate extract. This partially purified enzyme was maximally activated 9- or 53-fold over controls in the presence of 0.1% deoxycholate or 0.1% Triton X-100, respectively. Stimulation of the kinase was also observed with mixtures of dimyristoylphosphatidylcholine and deoxycholate. The level of stimulation by these mixtures was up to 20-fold higher than that observed in controls having deoxycholate alone. Dimyristoylphosphatidylcholine alone was not stimulatory. A 1:1 molar ratio of Triton X-100 or deoxycholate to dimyristoylphosphatidylcholine was optimal for enzyme activation. The half-maximum velocity of the dephospholipidated enzyme at 1:1 molar ratio of detergent to dimyristoylphosphatidylcholine was obtained at 150 or 550 microM CTP in the presence of deoxycholate or Triton X-100, respectively. It has been observed, therefore, that dolichol kinase may be extracted from liver microsomes, depleted of endogenous phospholipids and activated by specific molar ratios of detergent to phospholipid.     

Purification and characterization of bovine tissue factor

Tissue factor (tissue thromboplastin, factor III), an initiator of coagulation, has been purified 142,000-fold to homogeneity from bovine brain. The protein is an integral membrane glycoprotein with an apparent molecular weight of 43,000 as judged by sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The apoprotein was first purified by extraction with Triton X-100 and repeated preparative polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis in sodium dodecyl sulfate. Antiserum was produced against a few micrograms of purified apoprotein and was used to construct an immunoadsorbent column. The column was then used for affinity purification of the apoprotein directly from the Triton X-100 extract, thereby significantly increasing the amount of purified protein produced. The purification scheme may be generally useful for the rapid and large scale purification of membrane proteins. Tryptic digestion of the apoprotein in Triton X-100 cleaved a peptide of approximately 3000 daltons without affecting the activity. The activity was recovered directly from stained SDS polyacrylamide gels, and the profile of recovered activity corresponded directly with the stained bands. The activity shifted along with the protein band following tryptic digestion, thus demonstrating that the protein observed on the gels is tissue factor. The coagulant activity of the purified apoprotein was reconstituted by the addition of phospholipid. Optimal activity was observed at phospholipid to protein ratios (w/w) greater than 450:1.     

Purification and characterization of a phospholipase A2 from the venom of the coral snake, Micrurus fulvius microgalbineus (Brown and Smith).

A phospholipase A2 was purified from the Mexican coral snake Micrurus fulvius microgalbieus (Brown and Smith). Gel filtration of the soluble crude venom on Sephadex g-50 resolved five fractions, of which fraction II had 98% of the total phospholipase activity. This fraction was rechromatographed on a CM-cellulose column that resolved eight fractions, four of which had an important phospholipase activity. The first fraction (II-1) was homogeneous by polyacrylamide-gel electrophoresis and displayed a phospholipase specific activity of 920 units/mg of protein. The apparent molecular weight as determined by sodium dodecyl sulphate/polyacrylamide-gel electrophoresis was approx. 14000. The amino acid analysis revealed the presence of 119 amino acid residues, with 12 half-cystines. the N-terminal sequence was shown to be Ser-Leu-Leu-Asx-Phe-Lys-Asx-Met-Ile-Glu-Ser-Thr..., which is homologous with that of phospholipases from other snake venoms.     

A protein-glucan intermediate during paramylon synthesis.

A sodium deoxycholate extract containing glucosyltransferase activity was obtained from a particulate preparation from Euglena gracilis. It transferred glucose from UDP-[14C]glucose into material that was precipitated by trichloroacetic acid. This material released beta-(1 leads to 3)-glucan oligosaccharides into solution on incubation with weak acid, weak alkali and beta-(1 leads to 3)-glucosidase. The products of the incubation of the deoxycholate extract with UDP-[14C]glucose were analysed by sodium dodecyl sulphate/polyacrylamide-gel electrophoresis. Radioactive bands were obtained that had the properties of beta-(1 leads to 3)-glucan covalently linked to protein by a bond labile to weak acid. High-molecular-weight material containing a beta-(1 leads to 3)-glucan was also shown to be present by gel filtration. The bond linking glucan to aglycone is possibly a pyrophosphate linkage. It is proposed that in Euglena gracilis beta-(1 leads to 3)-glucan (paramylon) is synthesized on a protein primer.     

Affinity purification of human brain tissue factor utilizing factor VII bound to immobilized anti-factor VII

An efficient procedure for affinity purification of human tissue factor apoprotein that requires binding of only microgram quantities of human factor VII to anti-factor VII agarose is described. Factor VII was added to a 2% Triton X-100 extract of acetone brain powder in the presence of calcium. The resultant factor VII/tissue factor/calcium complex was bound to anti-factor VII-agarose, and the bound tissue factor was then eluted with EDTA. The eluate was passed through anti-goat IgG-agarose to remove contaminating goat IgG that leaks from the anti-factor VII column. Yield (units of activity) was 27%; specific activity was 2400 U/mg, which corresponds to that reported by others. The purified apoprotein migrated as a single band on sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis with an apparent molecular weight of 47,000. Immunostaining with a goat anti-tissue factor IgG raised against the purified material yielded a major band of the same apparent molecular weight. Factor VII remains bound to the column and, therefore, for subsequent use preincubation of tissue factor with factor VII and calcium is not required. Thus, the present purification procedure markedly reduces the amount of factor VII needed as affinity ligand to purify tissue factor apoprotein.     

alpha-Galactosidases II, III and IV from seeds of Trifolium repens. Purification, physicochemical properties and mode of galactomannan hydrolysis in vitro.

Five alpha-galactosidases (alpha-D-galactoside galactohydrolase, EC 3.2.1.22) were identified by chromatography and by their different electrophoretic mobilities, in the germinated seeds of Trifolium repens (white clover). alpha-Galactosidases II, III and IV were purified to homogeneity, with increases in specific activity of approx. 4600-, 4900- and 2800-fold respectively. The enzymes were purified by a procedure that included (NH4)2SO4 precipitation, hydroxyapatite, Sephadex G-75 and DEAE-cellulose chromatography, and preparative polyacrylamide-gel disc electrophoresis. The purified enzymes showed a single protein band, corresponding to the alpha-galactosidase activity, when examined by polyacrylamide-gel electrophoresis. The pH optimum was determined with o-nitrophenyl alpha-D-galactoside and the galactomannan of T. repens To as substrate. All three enzymes are highly thermolabile. Hydrolysis of oligosaccharides and galactomannans was examined, including two galactomannans from the germinated seed of T. repens (T24 and T36). By sodium dodecyl sulphate/polyacrylamide-gel electrophoresis the mol.wts. of the multiple forms of enzyme were found to be identical (41 000).     

Purification of uroporphyrinogen decarboxylase from human erythrocytes. Immunochemical evidence for a single protein with decarboxylase activity in human erythrocytes and liver.

Uroporphyrinogen decarboxylase (EC 4.1.1.37) has been purified 4419-fold to a specific activity of 58.3 nmol of coproporphyrinogen III formed/min per mg of protein (with pentacarboxyporphyrinogen III as substrate) from human erythrocytes by adsorption to DEAE-cellulose, (NH4)2SO4 fractionation, gel filtration, phenyl-Sepharose chromatography and polyacrylamide-gel electrophoresis. Progressive loss of activity towards uroporphyrinogens I and III occurred during purification. Experiments employing immunoprecipitation, immunoelectrophoresis and titration with solid-phase antibody indicated that all the uroporphyrinogen decarboxylase activity of human erythrocytes resides in one protein, and that the substrate specificity of this protein had changed during purification. The purified enzyme had a minimum mol.wt. of 39 500 on sodium dodecyl sulphate/polyacrylamide-gel electrophoresis. Gel filtration gave a mol.wt. of 58 000 for the native enzyme. Isoelectric focusing showed a single band with a pI of 4.60. Reaction with N-ethylmaleimide abolished both catalytic activity and immunoreactivity. Incubation with substrates or porphyrins prevented inactivation by N-ethylmaleimide. An antiserum raised against purified erythrocyte enzyme precipitated more than 90% of the uroporphyrinogen decarboxylase activity from human liver. Quantitative immunoprecipitation and crossed immunoelectrophoresis showed that the erythrocyte and liver enzymes are very similar but not identical. The differences observed may reflect secondary modification of enzyme structure by proteolysis or oxidation of thiol groups, rather than a difference in primary structure.     

Purification of human brain tissue factor

Tissue factor (factor III) is a lipoprotein cofactor which markedly enhances the catalytic effect of coagulation factor VIIa upon factors IX and X. Human tissue factor apoprotein was purified 53,000-fold to homogeneity from brain using acetone delipidation, Triton X-100 extraction, and affinity chromatography upon factor VII-agarose. The purified apoprotein has an apparent molecular weight of 44,000 by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, an amino acid composition similar to bovine brain tissue factor, and an NH2-terminal amino acid sequence of Ser-X-Asn-Thr-Val-Ala-Val-Tyr-X-Tyr-X-Leu-Lys-(Ser)-Lys-Asn-Phe. Optimal relipidation of the tissue factor apoprotein was associated with a 5000-fold enhancement of clotting activity and occurred at a phospholipid/apoprotein (w/w) ratio of greater than 600.     

Purification and physicochemical characterization of a human cytotoxic factor produced by a human haemic cell line.

A cytotoxic factor, produced by a human lymphoblastoid cell line [Karpas (1977) Br. J. Cancer 35, 152--160; Karpas (1977) Br. J. Cancer 36, 437--445], was purified both from the cell extracts and from the culture medium containing the cell lysate, by using ammonium sulphate precipitation, DEAE-cellulose chromatography, gel filtration and affinity chromatography on concanavalin A--Sepharose and on [3H]amino-ethanol--glass beads. Two factors, Factor I and Factor II, were separated by DEAE-cellulose chromatography. Factor I was eluted from this column at 30 mM-aminoethanol/HCl buffer, pH 8.0, whereas Factor II was bound strongly to DEAE-cellulose and was eluted only at 325 mM-aminoethanol/HCl buffer, pH 8.0. The purified Factor I migrated as a single band on polyacrylamide-gel electrophoresis. Its isoelectric point, pI, was 8.0 +/- 0.3. Its sedimentation coefficient, S20,w, was 3.5 +/- 0.1 S and its apparent molecular weight, Mr, was 65 000 +/- 1000 as determined by sedimentation-velocity and sedimentation-equilibrium measurements. A linear relationship between molecular weight and concentration was found in equilibrium runs, suggesting a non-spherical shape of the molecule. Factor I is not a glycoprotein, inasmuch as it does not bind to concanavalin A--Sepharose. It consists of two subunits (Mr 32 000 +/- 4000), migrating on sodium dodecyl sulphate/polyacrylamide-gel electrophoresis as a single band. Factor II had pI 6.0 +/- 0.4 and Mr 75 000 +/- 3000. Factors I and II are thus different proteins.     

Purification of the iron-sulfur protein, ubiquinone-binding protein, and cytochrome c1 from a single source of mitochondrial complex III

By detergent-exchange chromatography using a phenyl-Sepharose CL-4B column, Complex III of the respiratory chain of beef heart mitochondria was efficiently resolved into five fractions that were rich in the iron-sulfur protein, ubiquinone-binding protein, core proteins, cytochrome c1, and cytochrome b, respectively. Complex III was initially bound to the phenyl-Sepharose column equilibrated with buffer containing 0.25% deoxycholate and 0.2 M NaCl. An iron-sulfur protein fraction was first eluted from the column with buffer containing 1% deoxycholate and no salt after removal of phospholipids from the complex by washing with the buffer for the column equilibration, as reported previously (Y. Shimomura, M. Nishikimi, and T. Ozawa, 1984, J. Biol. Chem. 259, 14059-14063). Subsequently, a fraction containing the ubiquinone-binding protein and another containing two core proteins were eluted with buffers containing 1.5 and 3 M guanidine, respectively. A fraction containing cytochrome c1 was then eluted with buffer containing 1% dodecyl octaethylene glycol monoether. Finally, a cytochrome b-rich fraction was eluted with buffer containing 2% sodium dodecyl sulfate. The fractions of the iron-sulfur protein and ubiquinone-binding protein were further purified by gel chromatography on a Sephacryl S-200 superfine column, and the cytochrome c1 fraction was further purified by ion-exchange chromatography on a DEAE-Sepharose CL-6B column; each of the three purified proteins was homogeneous as judged by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis.     

The deoxyribonucleic acid modification enzyme of bacteriophage P1. Subunit structure

The bacteriophage P1 modification enzyme was purified 1400-fold from induced lysogens of a thermoinducible mutant of bacteriophage P1. The most purified fraction, when analysed by polyacrylamide-gel electrophoresis in sodium dodecyl sulphate, showed two principal stained bands. The two bands co-sedimented in a glycerol gradient with the modification activity, at a rate which, when compared with the rate of sedimentation of marker proteins, corresponds to a sedimentation coefficient in water of 6S. The mobilities of the bands on sodium dodecyl sulphate-polyacrylamide-gel electrophoresis corresponded to polypeptides of molecular weight 70000 and 45000 and they were present in equimolar amounts. It was concluded that the 6S species of the enzyme is a dimer of unlike subunits.     

Biochemical characterization including amino acid and carbohydrate compositions of canine and human brain Thy-1 antigen.

Human and canine brain Thy-1 antigens were solubilized in deoxycholate and antigen activity was followed both by conventional absorbed anti-brain xenosera of proven specificity and by mouse monoclonal antibodies to canine and human Thy-1. It is shown that greater than 80% of Thy-1 activity in the dog and man binds to lentil lectin, that the mobility on sodium dodecyl sulphate/polyacrylamide-gel electrophoresis of canine and human Thy-1 is identical with that of rat Thy-1 and that the Stokes radius in deoxycholate of canine and human brain Thy-1 is 3.0 nm and 3.25 nm respectively. Both lentil lectin affinity chromatography followed by gel-filtration chromatography on the one hand and monoclonal antibody affinity chromatography on the other gave high degrees of purification of the brain Thy-1 molecule in the dog and man, resulting in single bands staining for both protein and carbohydrate on sodium dodecyl sulphate/polyacrylamide-gel electrophoresis (except for a slight contaminant of higher molecular weight staining for protein but not carbohydrate with human Thy-1 purified by lentil lectin and gel-filtration chromatography). Analysis of canine and human brain Thy-1 purified by monoclonal antibody affinity chromatography with additional gel filtration through Sephadex G-200 showed that these molecules had respectively 38% and 36% carbohydrate. The amino acid and carbohydrate compositions were similar to those previously reported for Thy-1 of the rat and mouse, the main point of interest being the presence in canine and human brain Thy-1 of N-acetylgalactosamine, which has been reported in rat and mouse brain Thy-1 but not in Thy-1 from other tissues.     

Diacylglycerol kinase from pig brain. Purification and phospholipid dependencies

Diacylglycerol kinase (EC 2.7.1.-) was purified 1,650-fold from pig brain cytosol. The purified enzyme showed a single protein band on polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis in the presence and absence of sodium dodecyl sulfate. The molecular weight of the kinase was estimated to be 78,000 by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. A similar value (76,000) was obtained by Sephadex G-150 gel filtration. The activity of the purified enzyme was markedly enhanced by either deoxycholate or phospholipids. The extent of activation by phospholipids was in the order of phosphatidylcholine greater than lysophosphatidylcholine greater than phosphatidylethanolamine approximately equal to phosphatidylserine greater than sphingomyelin. Other phospholipids and unsaturated fatty acids were ineffective. Phosphatidylcholines from egg yolk and pig brain, and dioleoyl phosphatidylcholine were similarly effective. Saturated phosphatidylcholines with acyl chain lengths shorter than palmitate also gave a considerable activation. The activity with phosphatidylcholine was from 1.5- to 2.5-fold higher than that measured with deoxycholate. A very small amount of phosphatidylinositol or phosphatidylglycerol potently inhibited the phosphatidylcholine-dependent (but not deoxycholate-dependent) kinase activity. The inhibition by phosphatidylinositol was varied according to its molar ratio to phosphatidylcholine. As little as about 2.5 mol per cent of phosphatidylinositol resulted in 50% inhibition of the phosphatidylcholine-dependent kinase activity. The deoxycholate- and phosphatidylcholine-dependent kinase activities showed almost the same Km values for the substrates. In both cases, the apparent Km values for ATP and diacylglycerol were 300 microM and about 60 microM, respectively. The kinase required Mg2+ for its activity. When compared to deoxycholate, phosphatidylcholine was more effective at higher Mg2+ concentrations. The deoxycholate-dependent activity showed a broad pH optimum at around 8.0, whereas the phosphatidylcholine-dependent activity formed a clear peak at pH 7.4.     

Isolation and renaturation of alpha 2-macroglobulin receptor from diploid human fibroblasts.

alpha 2-Macroglobulin receptor was extracted from human diploid fibroblasts and purified by affinity chromatography in a single step. The receptor had mol.wt. 125 000 after sodium dodecyl sulphate (SDS)/polyacrylamide-gel electrophoresis. The isolated receptor was separated by SDS/polyacrylamide-gel electrophoresis, transferred on to nitrocellulose sheets and subsequently renatured, as shown by a specific binding test, by incubation with Nonidet P40.     

Soluble adenylate cyclase activity in Neurospora crassa.

A soluble form of adenylate cyclase was extracted from mycelia of Neurospora crassa wild-type strains. This enzyme activity was purified by chromatography on hexyl-amino-Sepharose, agarose and Blue Sepharose and preparative polyacrylamide-gel electrophoresis. On sodium dodecyl sulphate/polyacrylamide-gel electrophoresis, peak fractions from the later purification steps showed a main polypeptide band with an apparent molecular weight of about 66 000. The following hydrodynamic and molecular parameters were established for the Neurospora soluble adenylate cyclase activity: sedimentation coefficient, 6.25 S; Stokes radius, 7.3 nm; partial specific volume, 0.74 ml/g; molecular weight, 202 000; frictional ratio, 1.65. The isoelectric point of this enzyme activity was 4.65. The enzyme was not activated by GTP, [beta gamma-imido]GTP, fluoride or cholera toxin.     

Solubilization and purification of rat liver 5''-nucleotidase by use of a zwitterionic detergent and a monoclonal-antibody immunoadsorbent.

1. A variety of detergents were used to solubilize 5'-nucleotidase from rat liver plasma membranes. 2. The zwitterionic detergent Sulphobetaine 14 gave optimal solubilization by the criteria of release into a high-speed-centrifugation supernatant and the formation of the smallest and least polydisperse active enzyme observed on polyacrylamide-gel electrophoresis. 3. The Sulphobetaine 14-solubilized enzyme from rat liver was purified by using the conventional techniques of ion-exchange chromatography and gel filtration, or by an immunoaffinity step with a monoclonal antibody immunoadsorbent. 4. 5'-Nucleotidase was purified at least 12 000-fold relative to liver homogenate by the immunoaffinity purification scheme and had a specific activity in the range 285-340 mumol/min per mg of protein. The yield was in the range 9-16%. 5. The purified enzyme shows a major polypeptide band of apparent Mr 70 000 on sodium dodecyl sulphate/polyacrylamide-gel electrophoresis and a minor band of apparent Mr 38 000. 6. A rational approach to the general problem of the purification of minor intrinsic membrane proteins is discussed, with the use of polyacrylamide-gel electrophoresis to determine the most appropriate detergent and monoclonal antibodies in subsequent immunoaffinity purification.     

Characterization of pepsin-solubilized bovine heart-valve collagen.

Collagens extracted from heart valves by using limited pepsin digestion were fractionated by differential salt precipitation. Collagen types were identified by sodium dodecyl sulphate/polyacrylamide-gel electrophoresis, amino acid analysis and cleavage with CNBr. Heart-valve collagen was heterogeneous in nature, consisting of a mixture of type-I and type-III collagens. The identity of type-III collagen was established on the basis of (a) insolubility in 1.7 M-NaC1 at neutral pH, (b) behaviour of this collagen fraction on gel electrophoresis under reducing and non-reducing conditions, (c) amino acid analysis showing a hydroxyproline/proline ratio greater than 1, and (d) profile of CNBr peptides on sodium dodecyl sulphate/polyacrylamide-gel electrophoresis showing a peak characteristic for type-III collagen containing peptides alpha1(III)CB8 and alpha1(III)CB3. In addition to types-I and -III collagen, a collagen polypeptide not previously described in heart valves was identified. This polypeptide represented approx. 30% of the collagen fraction precipitated at 4.0 M-NaCl, it migrated between beta- and alpha1-collagen chains on sodium dodecyl sulphate/polyacrylamide-gel electrophoresis and its electrophoretic behaviour was not affected by disulphide-bond reduction. All collagen fractions from the heart valves contained increased amounts of hydroxylysine when compared with type-I and -III collagens from other tissues. The presence of beta- and gamma-chains and higher aggregates in pepsin-solubilized collagen indicated that these collagens were highly cross-linked and suggested that some of these cross-links involved the triple-helical regions of the molecule. It is likely that the higher hydroxylysine content of heart-valve collagen is responsible for the high degree of intermolecular cross-linking and may be the result of an adaptive mechanism for the specialized function of these tissues.