Isoelectric focusing of interacting systems. I. Carrier ampholyte-induced macromolecular isomerization.

A phenomenological theory of isoelectric focusing is formulated for rapidly reversible, ampholyte-induced macromolecular isomerization. The calculations reveal that such interactions can give well resolved, bimodal transient and equilibrium isoelectric focusing patterns in which the two peaks correspond to different chemical equilibrium compositions and not to separated isomers. The kinetics of approach to the equilibrium pattern are characteristically biphasic: During the first phase, which is controlled by the rate of migration of the isomers in the electric field, two peaks are positioned in the region between the isoelectric points of the two isomers; one of the peaks then grows slowly at the expense of the other with a diffusion-dominated rate. The kinetics are dependent upon the initial distribution of macromolecule in the isoelectric focusing column, and in certain cases only a single peak is apparent during the first phase. These findings have practical implications for unambiguous interpretation of isoelectric focusing patterns, furnish explanations for hitherto puzzling experimental observations, and provide theoretical insights required for application of isoelectric focusing to the detection and characterization of macromolecular interactions in general.     

AMPHOTERIC COLLOIDS : II. VOLUMETRIC ANALYSIS OF ION-PROTEIN COMPOUNDS; THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE ISOELECTRIC POINT FOR THE PURIFICATION OF AMPHOTERIC COLLOIDS.

1. It is shown by volumetric analysis that on the alkaline side from its isoelectric point gelatin combines with cations only, but not with anions; that on the more acid side from its isoelectric point it combines only with anions but not with cations; and that at the isoelectric point, pH = 4.7, it combines with neither anion nor cation. This confirms our statement made in a previous paper that gelatin can exist only as an anion on the alkaline side from its isoelectric point and only as a cation on the more acid side of its isoelectric point, and practically as neither anion nor cation at the isoelectric point. 2. Since at the isoelectric point gelatin (and probably amphoteric colloids generally) must give off any ion with which it was combined, the simplest method of obtaining amphoteric colloids approximately free from ionogenic impurities would seem to consist in bringing them to the hydrogen ion concentration characteristic of their isoelectric point (i.e., at which they migrate neither to the cathode nor anode of an electric field). 3. It is shown by volumetric analysis that when gelatin is in combination with a monovalent ion (Ag, Br, CNS), the curve representing the amount of ion-gelatin formed is approximately parallel to the curve for swelling, osmotic pressure, and viscosity. This fact proves that the influence of ions upon these properties is determined by the chemical or stoichiometrical and not by the "colloidal" condition of gelatin. 4. The sharp drop of these curves at the isoelectric point finds its explanation in an equal drop of the water solubility of pure gelatin, which is proved by the formation of a precipitate. It is not yet possible to state whether this drop of the solubility is merely due to lack of ionization of the gelatin or also to the formation of an insoluble tautomeric or polymeric compound of gelatin at the isoelectric point. 5. On account of this sudden drop slight changes in the hydrogen ion concentration have a considerably greater chemical and physical effect in the region of the isoelectric point than at some distance from this point. This fact may be of biological significance since a number of amphoteric colloids in the body seem to have their isoelectric point inside the range of the normal variation of the hydrogen ion concentration of blood, lymph, or cell sap. 6. Our experiments show that while a slight change in the hydrogen ion concentration increases the water solubility of gelatin near the isoelectric point, no increase in the solubility can be produced by treating gelatin at the isoelectric point with any other kind of monovalent or polyvalent ion; a fact apparently not in harmony with the adsorption theory of colloids, but in harmony with a chemical conception of proteins.     

Studies on pig serum lipoproteins. VI. Surface charge of very low density lipoprotein.

The surface electric charge of pig serum very low density lipoprotein (VLDL) is described. By isoelectric focusing VLDL was separated into at least 3 fractions having different isoelectric points and polypeptide distributions. The ultracentrifugal and electron microscopic results indicate that the VLDL was not drastically denatured by Ampholine.     

Isoelectric focusing of interacting systems. II. pH-dependent conformational transitions.

Transient and equilibrium isoelectric focusing patterns have been computed for pH-dependent conformational transitions in the limits of complete cooperativity and instantaneous chemical equilibration. Transitions induced by the binding of a relatively large number of hydrogen ions by the macromolecule give well resolved bimodal equilibrium patterns, provided that the resulting conformer has the lower isoelectric point. The corresponding transient patterns may be either bimodal or virtually unimodal for practical times of operation depending upon the point of insertion of the sample into the pH gradient and the stoichiometry of the interaction. A macromolecule undergoing sequential transitions can give multimodal isoelectric focussing patterns.     

AMPHOTERIC COLLOIDS : I. CHEMICAL INFLUENCE OF THE HYDROGEN ION CONCENTRATION.

1. It has been shown in this paper that while non-ionized gelatin may exist in gelatin solutions on both sides of the isoelectric point (which lies for gelatin at a hydrogen ion concentration of C_H = 2.10^–5 or pH = 4.7), gelatin, when it ionizes, can only exist as an anion on the less acid side of its isoelectric point (pH > 4.7), as a cation only on the more acid side of its isoelectric point (pH < 4.7). At the isoelectric point gelatin can dissociate practically neither as anion nor as cation. 2. When gelatin has been transformed into sodium gelatinate by treating it for some time with M/32 NaOH, and when it is subsequently treated with HCl, the gelatin shows on the more acid side of the isoelectric point effects of the acid treatment only; while the effects of the alkali treatment disappear completely, showing that the negative gelatin ions formed by the previous treatment with alkali can no longer exist in a solution with a pH < 4.7. When gelatin is first treated with acid and afterwards with alkali on the alkaline side of the isoelectric point only the effects of the alkali treatment are noticeable. 3. On the acid side of the isoelectric point amphoteric electrolytes can only combine with the anions of neutral salts, on the less acid side of their isoelectric point only with cations; and at the isoelectric point neither with the anion nor cation of a neutral salt. This harmonizes with the statement made in the first paragraph, and the experimental results on the effect of neutral salts on gelatin published in the writer''s previous papers. 4. The reason for this influence of the hydrogen ion concentration on the stability of the two forms of ionization possible for an amphoteric electrolyte is at present unknown. We might think of the possibility of changes in the configuration or constitution of the gelatin molecule whereby ionized gelatin can exist only as an anion on the alkaline side and as a cation on the acid side of its isoelectric point. 5. The literature of colloid chemistry contains numerous statements which if true would mean that the anions of neutral salts act on gelatin on the alkaline side of the isoelectric point, e.g. the alleged effect of the Hofmeister series of anions on the swelling and osmotic pressure of common gelatin in neutral solutions, and the statement that both ions of a neutral salt influence a protein simultaneously. The writer has shown in previous publications that these statements are contrary to fact and based on erroneous methods of work. Our present paper shows that these claims of colloid chemists are also theoretically impossible. 6. In addition to other physical properties the conductivity of gelatin previously treated with acids has been investigated and plotted, and it was found that this conductivity is a minimum in the region of the isoelectric point, thus confirming the conclusion that gelatin can apparently not exist in ionized condition at that point. The conductivity rises on either side of the isoelectric point, but not symmetrically for reasons given in the paper. It is shown that the curves for osmotic pressure, viscosity, swelling, and alcohol number run parallel to the curve of the conductivity of gelatin when the gelatin has been treated with acid, supporting the view that these physical properties are in this case mainly or exclusively a function of the degree of ionization of the gelatin or gelatin salt formed. It is pointed out, however, that certain constitutional factors, e.g. the valency of the ion in combination with the gelatin, may alter the physical properties of the gelatin (osmotic pressure, etc.) without apparently altering its conductivity. This point is still under investigation and will be further discussed in a following publication. 7. It is shown that the isoelectric point of an amphoteric electrolyte is not only a point where the physical properties of an ampholyte experience a sharp drop and become a minimum, but that it is also a turning point for the mode of chemical reactions of the ampholyte. It may turn out that this chemical influence of the isoelectric point upon life phenomena overshadows its physical influence. 8. These experiments suggest that the theory of amphoteric colloids is in its general features identical with the theory of inorganic hydroxides (e.g. aluminum hydroxide), whose behavior is adequately understood on the basis of the laws of general chemistry.     

Isoelectric focusing of interacting systems. IV. interaction of macromolecules with each other and with ligands

The theoretical isoelectric focusing behavior for rapidly reversible, bimolecular complexing between two macromolecules depends upon the relative value of the isoelectric point of the complex. When it is intermediate in value, the transient patterns exhibit three peaks. As equilibrium is approached the central peak of complex disappears leaving two reactant peaks. When the isoelectric point is acidic or alkaline to both reactants, the equilibrium pattern also shows two peaks; but in this case only one is pure reactant, the other being a reaction zone. The two cases can be distinguished by varying the relative amounts of reactants. Transient patterns for ligand-binding exhibit a peak of unliganded protein and a reaction zone. As the charged ligand is driven out of the focusing column the reaction zone disappears, so that the equilibrium pattern shows only a peak of unliganded protein. In general, the isoelectric point of the complex cannot be determined from the transient patterns.     

High resolution two-dimensional electrophoresis of basic as well as acidic proteins.

A previously described two-dimensional electrophoresis procedure (O'Farrell, 1975) combined isoelectric focusing and sodium dodecylsulfate slab gel electrophoresis to give high resolution of proteins with isoelectric points in the range of pH 4–7. This paper describes an alternate procedure for the first dimension which, unlike isoelectric focusing, resolves basic as well as acidic proteins. This method, referred to as nonequilibrium pH gradient electrophoresis (NEPHGE), involves a short time of electrophoresis toward the cathode and separates most proteins according to their isoelectric points. Ampholines of different pH ranges are used to optimize separation of proteins with different isoelectric points. The method is applied to the resolution of basic proteins with pH 7–10 Ampholines, and to the resolution of total cellular proteins with pH 3.5–10 Ampholines. Histones and ribosomal proteins can be readily resolved even though most have isoelectric points beyond the maximum pH attained in these gels. The separation obtained by NEPHGE with pH 3.5–10 Ampholines was compared to that obtained when isoelectric focusing was used in the first dimension. The protein spot size and resolution are similar (each method resolving more than 1000 proteins), but there is less resolution of acidic proteins in this NEPHGE gel due to compression of the pattern. On the other hand, NEPHGE gels extend the range of analysis to include the 15–30% of the proteins which are excluded from isoelectric focusing gels. The distribution of cell proteins according to isoelectric point and molecular weight for a procaryote (E. coli) was compared to that of a eucaryote (African green monkey kidney); the eucaryotic cell proteins are, on the average, larger and more basic.     

Steroid receptors in human endometrium. Comparison of data obtained by three different methods

To find a method for steroid receptor measurement in small endometrial tissue samples (less than 100 mg), an isoelectric focusing assay has been compared with a dextran-coated charcoal assay for oestradiol receptor. The results correlated well (r = 0.85) and this indicates that isoelectric focusing is a good technique for oestradiol receptor determination. Te isoelectric focusing of progesterone receptor has been compared with a dextran-coated charcoal assay and sucrose density gradient centrifugation. Isoelectric focusing gave recoveries of 0-26% compared to receptor values obtained with the two other methods, which correlated well (r = 0.97). The low recovery implies that the isoelectric focusing assay is not suitable for progesterone receptor determination.     

A new analytical procedure for two-dimensional electrophoresis of cellular proteins: comparison of protein compositions of parent strain and a K+-accumulation mutant of E. coli.

An improved two-dimensional analytical electrophoretic technique fractionates according to molecular weight in the presence of dedecyl sulfate in the first dimension, then fractionates according to isoelectric point in a perpendicular dimension. Electrofocusing in the second dimension achieves nearly complete removal of most protein components while providing true estimates of their isoelectric points. Because not all proteins penetrate isoelectric focusing gels, some proteins may go unrecognized using conventional two-dimensional systems where isoelectric focusing precedes electrophoresis. However, such components do enter dodecyl sulfate gels; hence the presence and molecular weight of those components can be established by the new procedure. A concurrent finding was that, in general, penetration of isoelectric focusing gels by discrete protein subunits dissolved in 9 M urea is an all-or-none phenomenon depending on the solubility of the specific subunit. The procedure was applied to comparison of the protein compositions of a parental strain (CBH) of Escherichia coli and a derived mutant strain (RD-2) deficient in ability to accumulate K+. The strains showed similar two-dimensional patterns except for one discrete isoelectric component absent in the parent strain but present in the mutant.     

Protein disulphide-isomerase of chick-embryo tendon.

Protein disulphide-isomerase can be partially purified from the high-speed-supernatant fraction of extensively disrupted chick-embryo tendon tissue. The catalytic properties of the preparation resemble those of the enzyme from mammalian liver. Gel electrophoresis and isoelectric focusing show the enzyme to be very acidic, with pI 4.4 +/- 0.3. Gel filtration indicates an Mr for the active enzyme of 140 000. The enzyme can be partially purified by preparative gel filtration or isoelectric focusing, but its limited stability has prevented purification to homogeneity; active fractions from both gel filtration and isoelectric focusing show two major polypeptide components by sodium dodecyl sulphate/polyacrylamide-gel electrophoresis. The major polypeptides present in partially purified preparations have Mr 45 000 and 55 000; the latter band co-distributes with the enzyme activity in fractionations by both gel filtration and isoelectric focusing. The subcellular location of the enzyme cannot be established from work on homogenates of whole tissue, which are extensively disrupted. In homogenates from isolated tendon cells, the enzyme is located in a vesicle fraction that is excluded from Sepharose 2B but is of low density and can only be sedimented at very high speeds. This fraction is identified as deriving from the endoplasmic reticulum on the grounds of marker-enzyme studies and electron microscopy.     

Isoelectric focusing of boar spermatozoa.

The isoelectric points of washed spermatozoa from intact boars and from boars after removal of the seminal vesicles were determined using isoelectric focusing on natural pH gradients. Normal boar spermatozoa focused at a higher pH than spermatozoa from boars without seminal vesicles. The isoelectric point of the latter was increased to a value approaching normal by preincubation in normal seminal plasma. This indicates that seminal plasma alters the membrane surface charge of boar spermatozoa on ejaculation.     

Studies on the structure of sphingomyelinase. Amino acid composition and heterogeneity on isoelectric focusing.

Sphingomyelinase, purified to apparent homogeneity from human placenta, is an acidic protein, as judged from its amino acid composition and by isoelectric focusing of the carboxymethylated protein. The amino acid composition is characterized by an approximately equal content of hydrophobic and polar amino acid residues. The reduced-alkylated polypeptides were separated into two groups. Most of the polypeptides were heterogeneous with pI values of 4.4-5.0, but an additional more minor component was observed at pI 5.4. Liquid isoelectric focusing resolved the purified enzyme into a single major component (pI 4.7-4.8), a minor component (pI 5.0-5.4) and a plateau region of activity (pI 6-7). On thin-layer isoelectric focusing, the protein profile obtained from each of these regions was the same. In addition, the substrate specificity, Km values and effect of inhibitory substances were identical. We conclude that sphingomyelinase is an acidic, microheterogeneous protein that likely exists as a holopolymer of a single major polypeptide chain. the heterogeneity of the intact protein on isoelectric focusing appears to reflect this microheterogeneity, which is influenced by a tendency to associate with itself and with detergents such as Triton X-100.     

Gramicidin S-synthetase. A further characterization of phenylalanine racemase, the light enzyme of gramicidin s-synthetase.

1. Chromatography on hydroxyapatite and on aminohexyl-Sepharose as well as isoelectric focusing were introduced as new effective purification procedures for phenylalanine racemase (EC 5.1.1.11). The enzyme preparations obtained were essentially homogeneous, as demonstrated by specific activity measurements and polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. 2. The enzyme is not dissociable by sodium dodecyl sulfate. 3. Phenylalanine racemase is an acidic protein with an isoelectric point of approx. 4.6 (isoelectric focusing). 4. The Michaelis constants of L-Phe and D-Phe in the aminoacyl adenylate activation are 0.06 and 0.13 mM, respectively. 5. From our studies with structural analogues of phenylalanine we infer that the amino group of this amino acid is essential for its binding to the aminoacyl adenylate reaction center. The carboxyl group is not at all or only weakly bound. The benzene ring of phenylalanine which determines substrate recognition also seems to be of minor importance for substrate binding.     

Isoelectric-focusing behavior of acid hydrolases in rat kidney lysosomes. Effects of the pH gradient, autolysis and neuraminidase.

Isoelectric focusing was used to study the multiple forms of acid phosphatase, arylsulfatase, beta-glucuronidase and beta-N-acetylhexosaminidase in lysosomes isolated from rat kidney. The isoelectric points of the main protein and hydrolase peaks were 1-1.5 units lower when electrofocusing was done in a pH 3-10 gradient than in a pH 10-3 gradient, apparently because the lysosomal constituents aggregated strongly at their isoelectric points and tended to settle somewhat in the gradient due to gravity. In the extended pH gradient the acidic form of each hydrolase occurred as asingle, relatively discrete peak. However, when pooled acidic fractions were refocused in a restricted pH gradient (pH 6-3 or 3-5) multiple acidic enzyme and protein components were resolved with isoelectric points between 2.7 and 5.1. When autolysis was minimized by extracting lysosomal fractions at alkaline pH (0.2% Triton X-100, 0.1%p-nitrophenyloxamic acid, 0.1 M glycine buffer, pH9) and including 0.1%p-NITROPHENYLOXAMIC ACID, AN INHIBITOR OF LYSOSOMAL NEURAMINIDASE AND CATHEPSIN D, in the pH gradient, arylsulfatase, beta-glucuronidase and beta-N-acetylhexosaminidase occurred in two forms, an acidic form with an isoelectric point of about 4.4, and a basic form with an isoelectric point close to 6.2, 6.7 and 8.0, respectively. Acid phosphatase occurred in three forms with isoelectric points of 4.1, 5.6 and 7.4. When some autolytic digestion was permitted by extracting lysosomal fractions in an acidic medium (0.2% Triton X-100, 0.1 M sodium acetate buffer, pH 5.2) AT 0-4DEGREES C and omitting p-nitrophenyloxamic acid from the gradient, the acidic form of beta-glucuronidase and the intermediate form of acid phosphatase were lost, the isoelectric points of the acidic forms of acid phosphatase, arylsulfatase and beta-N-acetylhexosaminidase were increased 0.6-1.2 units, and the isoelectric point of the basic forms of acid phosphatase, arylsulfatase and beta-glucuronidase was increased 0.5 unit. When lysosomal extracts were incubated with bacterial neuraminidase before electrofocusing, the acidic forms of acid phosphatase, arylsulfatase and beta-glucuronidase were largely lost, the isoelectric point of the acidic form of beta-N-acetylhexosaminidase was increased from 4.5 to 6.4, and the isoelectric points of the basic forms of all four hydrolases were increased 0.5-1.5 units. Autoincubation of lysosomal extracts in vitro at pH 5.2 PRODUCED SIMILAR, THOUGH LESS MARKED, effects. cont'd     

Isoelectric point of an ion-penetrable membrane.

The surface potential of an ion-penetrable planar membrane is calculated for the case in which acidic and basic groups are present in the membrane. It is found that when both acidic and basic groups are not uniformly distributed in the direction normal to the membrane, the isoelectric point (the pH value at which the surface potential becomes zero) of the membrane varies with the electrolyte concentration, whereas if both groups are uniformly distributed, the isoelectric point is independent of the electrolyte concentration. As a simple example, we treat a membrane consisting of two layers, in which acidic groups are distributed in the outer layer and basic groups are in the inner layer. Simple equations determining the membrane surface potential as a function of pH and electrolyte concentration and the dependence of the isoelectric point on the electrolyte concentration are presented.     

An isoelectric focusing study of plasma membrane actin.

Plasma membranes were purified from secondary chick embryo fibroblasts labeled with [³⁵S]methionine for 1 or 18 h. The total cell homogenate, postnuclear supernatant and plasma membrane fractions were analyzed by two-dimensional electrophoresis (isoelectric focusing followed by SDS-slab gel electrophoresis). The α, β, and γ isoelectric variants of actin were present in similar proportion in membranes, supernatant, and cell homogenate as determined by incorporation of ³⁵S into each species of actin. These results indicate that the plasma membrane actin of chick fibroblasts is heterogeneous and that no isoelectric variant of actin is unique to the plasma membrane.     

AMPHOTERIC COLLOIDS : III. CHEMICAL BASIS OF THE INFLUENCE OF ACID UPON THE PHYSICAL PROPERTIES OF GELATIN.

1. The method of removing the excess of hydrobromic acid after it has had a chance to react chemically with gelatin has permitted us to measure the amount of Br in combination with the gelatin. It is shown that the curves representing the amount of bromine bound by the gelatin are approximately parallel with the curves for the osmotic pressure, the viscosity, and swelling of the gelatin solution. This proves that the curves for osmotic pressure are an unequivocal function of the number of gelatin bromide molecules formed under the influence of the acid. The cc. of 0.01 N Br in combination with 0.25 gm, of gelatin we call the bromine number. 2. The explanation of this influence of the acid on the physical properties of gelatin is based on the fact that gelatin is an amphoteric electrolyte, which at its isoelectric point is but sparingly soluble in water, while its transformation into a salt with a univalent anion like gelatin Br makes it soluble. The curve for the bromine number thus becomes at the same time the numerical expression for the number of gelatin molecules rendered soluble, and hence the curve for osmotic pressure must of necessity be parallel to the curve for the bromine number. 3. Volumetric analysis shows that gelatin treated previously with HBr is free from Br at the isoelectric point as well as on the more alkaline side from the isoelectric point (pH ≧ 4.7) of gelatin. This is in harmony with the fact that gelatin (like any other amphoteric electrolyte) can dissociate on the alkaline side of its isoelectric point only as an anion. On the more acid side from the isoelectric point gelatin is found to be in combination with Br and the Br number rises with the pH. 4. When we titrate gelatin, treated previously with HBr but possessing a pH = 4,7, with NaOH we find that 25 cc. of a 1 per cent solution of isoelectric gelatin require about 5.25 to 5.5 cc. of 0.01 N NaOH for neutralization (with phenolphthalein as an indicator). This value which was found invariably is therefore a constant which we designate as "NaOH (isoelectric)." When we titrate 0.25 gm. of gelatin previously treated with HBr but possessing a pH < 4.7 more than 5.5 cc. of 0.01 N NaOH are required for neutralization. We will designate this value of NaOH as "(NaOH)_n," where n represents the value of pH. If we designate the bromine number for the same pH as "Br_n" then we can show that the following equation is generally true: (NaOH)_n = NaOH (isoelectric) + Br_n. In other words, titration with NaOH of gelatin (previously treated with HBr) and being on the acid side of its isoelectric point results in the neutralization of the pure gelatin (NaOH isoelectric) with NaOH and besides in the neutralization of the HBr in combination with the gelatin. This HBr is set free as soon as through the addition of the NaOH the pH of the gelatin solution becomes equal to 4.7. 5. A comparison between the pH values and the bromine numbers found shows that over 90 per cent of the bromine or HBr found was in our experiments in combination with the gelatin.     

Rat small-intestinal β-galactosidases. Studies on the fractionation of `acid'' β-galactosidase with isoelectric focusing, gel filtration and ion-exchange chromatography

1. Different forms of the rat small-intestinal ;acid' beta-galactosidase were separated by using the isoelectric-focusing technique. The isoelectric points of the different forms were at pH4.2, 4.6, 5.4, 6.1 and approx. 8. 2. The two forms of ;acid' beta-galactosidase isoelectric at pH4.2 and 4.6 were completely excluded from the Sephadex G-200 gel, whereas the form isoelectric at pH8 had K(av.) 0.4. The concentration and pH of the elution buffer influenced the distribution of enzyme activity between different forms. Thus, under certain conditions of ionic strength and pH, the enzyme seems to form high-molecular-weight aggregates with low isoelectric points. These may be homopolymeric aggregates or the result of binding of enzyme to, for example, membrane fragments. The forms isoelectric at pH5.4 and 6.1 are probably aggregates of intermediate size. 3. During ion-exchange chromatography at pH6.0 one fraction of ;acid' beta-galactosidase was not retained on the column and was isoelectric at pH8 and another fraction was eluted when the buffer concentration in the eluate had increased to about 50mm. The main part of enzyme eluted in this second fraction was also isoelectric at pH8, indicating that the elution of this fraction is not a simple ion-exchange procedure but probably also involves a splitting of high-molecular-weight aggregates, originally retained because of their low isoelectric points. The enzyme subunits have a higher isoelectric point, and are therefore no longer bound to the ion-exchange resin.     

Heterogeneity of delta-crystallins of the embryonic mallard lens. Correlation between subunit compositions and isoelectric points.

delta-Crystallins from the lenses of embryonic mallards (Anas platyrhynchos) were analyzed with respect to native and subunit molecular weight, subunit composition, and isoelectric point. NaDodSO4-urea-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis showed that unfractionated mallard delta-crystallins are composed of approximately equal amounts of subunits with molecular weights near 47 000 and 48 000. Agarose gel chromatography showed that the embryonic mallard delta-crystallins have native molecular weights slightly less than 200 000. Thus, embryonic mallard delta-crystallins appear to be tetramers. Five major and nine minor delta-crystallins were resolved by isoelectric focusing. The five predominant delta-crystallins each cross-reacted with antichick delta-crystallin antiserum, and each had a different proportion of the larger and smaller subunits, indicating a direct relationship between the isoelectric point and the subunit composition. The presence of numerous, minor species of native delta-crystallins with different isoelectric points suggested that the subunits possess charge heteogeneity as well as size heterogeneity.     

AMPHOTERIC BEHAVIOR OF COMPLEX SYSTEMS : II. TITRATION OF SULFANILIC ACID-GLYCINE MIXTURES.

Electrometric titrations of glycine, sulfanilic acid, and various mixtures of the two have been made. These mixtures are shown to give a curve which, between their respective isoelectric points, is different from that of either substance. These mixtures have a maximum buffering power at a pH which can be theoretically calculated, and which has the characteristics of an "isoelectric point of the system." Other pairs of ampholytes are shown to act in an analogous manner.