Analysis of Partially Degraded Proteins by Quantitative Immunoelectrophoresis

Abstract

For the recognition of partially degraded proteins in quantitative immunoelectrophoresis, controlled proteolytic degradation of two model systems was investigated: human serum proteins and solubilized human erythrocyte membrane proteins. The following characteristic precipitates were found: 1) unending ('flying') precipitates, 2) precipitates splitting into several lines, 3) precipitation arcs showing shoulders or double peaks ('camels'), and 4) skew precipitation arcs. The same types of precipitates were also found for solubilized erythrocyte membrane proteins containing contaminating proteolytic enzymes and normal concentrated urine proteins.