Some biological properties of proteins of the mouse submaxillary gland as revealed by growth of tissues on electrophoretic acrylamide gels

Abstract

Direct explantation of tissues on to longitudinal slices of acrylamides gels, in which various proteins have been separated by electrophoresis, has enabled the identification of a number of growth-regulating substances from the mouse submaxillary gland. The properties of the Nerve Growth Factor have been determined using isolated neuroblasts: thrombin has been shown to be an effective mimic of NGF. A thymolytic factor, which destroys mature lymphoid cells of thymus and mesenteric lymph node has been demonstrated—it is suggested that this may be the substance responsible for runting induced in vivo by administration of crude submaxillary gland extracts. Another protein in this gland appears to promote differentiation of cells of the early chick neural tube. Finally the mesenchyme stimulating agent has been studied, and shown probably to be acid mucopolysaccharide: its action is mimicked by heparin.