Polypeptide structure of human terminal transferase

The polypeptide structure of terminal transferase purified from human lymphoblasts was examined with an immunoblot procedure using rabbit anti-calf thymus terminal transferase antibodies. Two doublets of bands of M_r 58-56,000 and M_r 44-42,000 are the major immunoreactive polypeptides. Only the M_r 44-42,000 polypeptides can be efficiently renatured $\text{in}\text{situ}$ after polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis in the presence of sodium dodecyl sulfate. Controlled degradation with trypsin produces fully active enzyme containing the α and β polypeptides typical of the low molecular weight terminal transferase, suggesting that the different forms of purified terminal transferase may arise by proteolysis of the M_r 58,000 polypeptide.