Isolation and Amino Acid Analysis of Mallory Bodies

Mallory bodies were isolated from the livers of alcoholic patients obtained at autopsy. The liver tissue was homogenized by a pressure homoge-nizer using nitrogen gas in excess of 2, 000 p. s. i. Solutions of 65% and 70% sucrose were used for discontinuous gradient ultracentrifugation. A distinct band between the two sucrose layers was collected, which was rich in Mallory bodies. Purity of the Mallory body fraction was examined by light and electron microscopy. Mallory body fractions were analyzed for amino acid composition.