Gel Filtration Peak Research Articles

Lysine modification of human serum albumin and its effect on protein conformation and nalidixic acid binding

In order to investigate the involvement of lysine residues of human serum albumin (HSA) in nalidixic acid (NA) binding, various modified preparations of HSA such as 44% carbamylated (C44), 83% carbamylated (C83) and 85% acetylated (A85) were made by treating the HSA solution with a different molar excess of potassium cyanate and acetic anhydride. The extent of modification, charge homogeneity and conformational changes of these derivatives were checked by TNBSA reaction method, polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE) and gel filtration using Sephacryl S-200 HR column, respectively. Binding of NA to HSA and its derivatives was examined using fluorescence quenching titration method to determine the binding constant. The emergence of a single band in PAGE and single symmetrical peak in gel filtration results confirmed the charge and size homogeneity of these derivatives. Hydrodynamic properties such as Stokes radius and frictional ratio, as obtained from the analytical gel filtration results suggested molecular expansion in C83 and A85 HSAs while C44 HSA retained the native conformation. Addition of NA to both native and modified HSA derivatives quenched the fluorescence intensity of the protein at 344 ​nm to a different extent. Whereas the values of the Stern-Volmer constant (KSV) and bimolecular quenching rate constant (kq) suggested, NA-HSA complex formation, binding constant (Ka) value suggested an intermediate binding affinity between NA and HSA. Furthermore, the decrease in the Ka value with the extent of modification was indicative of the involvement of lysine residues in NA-HSA interaction.

A proteomic analysis of Pakistan Daboia russelii russelii venom and assessment of potency of Indian polyvalent and monovalent antivenom

To address the dearth of knowledge on the biochemical composition of Pakistan Russell's Viper (Daboia russelii russelii) venom (RVV), the venom proteome has been analyzed and several biochemical and pharmacological properties of the venom were investigated. SDS-PAGE (reduced) analysis indicated that proteins/peptides in the molecular mass range of ~56.0–105.0kDa, 31.6–51.0kDa, 15.6–30.0kDa, 9.0–14.2kDa and 5.6–7.2kDa contribute approximately 9.8%, 12.1%, 13.4%, 34.1% and 30.5%, respectively of Pakistan RVV. Proteomics analysis of gel-filtration peaks of RVV resulted in identification of 75 proteins/peptides which belong to 14 distinct snake venom protein families. Phospholipases A2 (32.8%), Kunitz type serine protease inhibitors (28.4%), and snake venom metalloproteases (21.8%) comprised the majority of Pakistan RVV proteins, while 11 additional families accounted for 6.5–0.2%. Occurrence of aminotransferase, endo-β-glycosidase, and disintegrins is reported for the first time in RVV. Several of RVV proteins/peptides share significant sequence homology across Viperidae subfamilies. Pakistan RVV was well recognized by both the polyvalent (PAV) and monovalent (MAV) antivenom manufactured in India; nonetheless, immunological cross-reactivity determined by ELISA and neutralization of pro-coagulant/anticoagulant activity of RVV and its fractions by MAV surpassed that of PAV. Biological significanceThe study establishes the proteome profile of the Pakistan RVV, thereby indicating the presence of diverse proteins and peptides that play a significant role in the pathophysiology of RVV bite. Further, the proteomic findings will contribute to understand the variation in venom composition owing to different geographical location and identification of pharmacologically important proteins in Pakistan RVV.

A novel alkaline protease with antiproliferative activity from fresh fruiting bodies of the toxic wild mushroom Amanita farinosa.

A novel protease with a molecular mass of 15 kDa was purified from fresh fruiting bodies of the wild mushroom Amanita farinosa. The purification protocol entailed anion exchange chromatography on DEAE-cellulose, affinity chromatography on Affi-gel blue gel, cation exchange chromatography on SP-Sepharose, and gel filtration by fast protein liquid chromatography on Superdex 75. The protease was unadsorbed on DEAE-cellulose but adsorbed on Affi-gel blue gel and SP-Sepharose. It demonstrated a single 15-kDa band in sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS/PAGE) and a 15-kDa peak in gel filtration. The optimal pH and optimal temperature of the protease were pH 8.0 and 65 °C, respectively. Proliferation of human hepatoma HepG2 cells was inhibited by the protease with an IC(50) of 25 µM. The protease did not have antifungal or ribonuclease activity.

Homophilic Adhesion Mechanism of Neurofascin, a Member of the L1 Family of Neural Cell Adhesion Molecules

The L1 family neural cell adhesion molecules play key roles in specifying the formation and remodeling of the neural network, but their homophilic interaction that mediates adhesion is not well understood. We report two crystal structures of a dimeric form of the headpiece of neurofascin, an L1 family member. The four N-terminal Ig-like domains of neurofascin form a horseshoe shape, akin to several other immunoglobulin superfamily cell adhesion molecules such as hemolin, axonin, and Dscam. The neurofascin dimer, captured in two crystal forms with independent packing patterns, reveals a pair of horseshoes in trans-synaptic adhesion mode. The adhesion interaction is mediated mostly by the second Ig-like domain, which features an intermolecular β-sheet formed by the joining of two individual GFC β-sheets and a large but loosely packed hydrophobic cluster. Mutagenesis combined with gel filtration assays suggested that the side chain hydrogen bonds at the intermolecular β-sheet are essential for the homophilic interaction and that the residues at the hydrophobic cluster play supplementary roles. Our structures reveal a conserved homophilic adhesion mode for the L1 family and also shed light on how the pathological mutations of L1 affect its structure and function.

Structural basis for the assembly and gate closure mechanisms of the Mycobacterium tuberculosis 20S proteasome.

Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) possesses a proteasome system analogous to the eukaryotic ubiquitin-proteasome pathway. Mtb requires the proteasome to resist killing by the host immune system. The detailed assembly process and the gating mechanism of Mtb proteasome have remained unknown. Using cryo-electron microscopy and X-ray crystallography, we have obtained structures of three Mtb proteasome assembly intermediates, showing conformational changes during assembly, and explaining why the beta-subunit propeptide inhibits rather than promotes assembly. Although the eukaryotic proteasome core particles close their protein substrate entrance gates with different amino terminal peptides of the seven alpha-subunits, it has been unknown how a prokaryotic proteasome might close the gate at the symmetry axis with seven identical peptides. We found in the new Mtb proteasome crystal structure that the gate is tightly sealed by the seven identical peptides taking on three distinct conformations. Our work provides the structural bases for assembly and gating mechanisms of the Mtb proteasome.

A mannose/glucose-specific lectin from Chinese evergreen chinkapin ( Castanopsis chinensis)

A mannose/glucose-specific lectin has been purified from Chinese evergreen chinkapin ( Castanopsis chinensis) seeds, one of the most popular foods in East Asia. This lectin, designated as CCL, exhibited hemagglutinating activity in mouse and rabbit erythrocytes. It displayed a single band with a molecular mass of 29 kDa in SDS-PAGE and a 120-kDa peak in gel-filtration on Superdex-200. Its hemagglutinating activity was stable in the pH range 6–12 and at temperatures below 60 °C. The N-terminal amino acid sequence of CCL differed from those of other lectins in the same family. CCL inhibited the proliferation of HepG2 cells and adult emergence in fruitflies. CCL exhibited mitogenic activity toward mouse splenocytes, and induced nitric oxide production from mouse peritoneal macrophages but was devoid of inhibitory activity toward mycelial growth and HIV-1 reverse transcriptase.

Isolation and Characterization of a Trypsin-Chymotrypsin Inhibitor from the Seeds of Green Lentil (Lens culinaris)

A Bowman-Birk type trypsin-chymotrypsin inhibitor was isolated from seeds of the legume green lentil (Lens culinaris) by means of affinity chromatography on Affi-gel blue gel, ion exchange chromatography on Q-Sepharose, ion exchange chromatography by fast protein liquid chromatography (FPLC) on Mono Q and Mono S, and gel filtration by FPLC on Superdex 75. The trypsin-chymotrypsin inhibitor was bound on the first three types of chromatographic media. It appeared as a single 16-kDa peak in gel filtration and a single 16-kDa band in sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The trypsin inhibitory activity of the inhibitor was sensitive to the reducing agent dithiothreitol. It was completely abrogated after treatment with 10 mM dithiothreitol for 20 minutes. The protease inhibitor did not exert any inhibitory effect on hepatoma (Hep G2) and breast cancer (MCF 7) cell lines. There was no suppressive action on several fungal species including Botrytis cinerea, Fusarium oxysporum and Mycosphaerella arachidicola. It slightly inhibited the activity of HIV-1 reverse transcriptase, with an IC50 of 30 mM.

A hemagglutinin with mitogenic activity from dark red kidney beans

A 67-kDa hemagglutinin composed of two identical subunits was purified from Phaseolus vulgaris cv. ‘Dark Red Kidney Bean’. It was unadsorbed on DEAE-cellulose but adsorbed on Affi-gel blue gel. The hemagglutinin was highly purified after the two aforementioned chromatographic steps as revealed by a single peak in gel filtration on Superdex 75 and a single band in SDS-PAGE. The hemagglutinating activity was stable between 25 °C and 70 °C, and between pH 4 and pH 11, and in the presence of a variety of divalent metal chlorides at 500 mM concentration. The activity was reduced by 50% at 80 °C, and also when the pH was lowered to 3 or elevated to 12. The activity was reduced by 75% in the presence of 250 mM KCl or NaCl. A variety of sugars tested failed to inhibit the hemagglutinating activity of the hemagglutinin. Although the hemagglutinin exhibited mitogenic activity toward murine splenocytes, it had no effect on the activity of HIV-1 reverse transcriptase or mycelial growth in the fungi Botrytis cinerea, Fusarium oxysporum and Mycosphaerella arachidicola. It exerted an antiproliferative activity on leukemia L1210 cells.

First report of a xylose-specific lectin with potent hemagglutinating, antiproliferative and anti-mitogenic activities from a wild ascomycete mushroom

From fresh fruiting bodies of the wild ascomycete mushroom ( Xylaria hypoxylon) a lectin with N-terminal sequence resemblance to a part of Aspergillus oryzae genome and only slight similarity to fungal immunomodulatory protein from the mushroom Flammulina velutipes was isolated. The protocol comprised extraction with water, precipitation from the aqueous extract using 80% saturated (NH 4) 2SO 4, ion exchange chromatography on DEAE-cellulose and CM-cellulose, and then gel filtration by fast protein liquid chromatography on Superdex 75. Lectin activity was adsorbed on DEAE-cellulose and unadsorbed on CM-cellulose. The lectin appeared as a single band with a molecular mass of 14.4 kDa in sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and a single 28.8-kDa peak in gel filtration on Superdex 75. The lectin exhibited highly potent antiproliferative activity toward tumor cell lines, and exerted a potent anti-mitogenic action on mouse splenocytes. The hemagglutinating activity of the lectin was inhibited by inulin and xylose. It was stable up to 35 °C. At 40 °C its hemagglutinating activity was reduced by 50%, and it dwindled to 12.5% of the original activity at 50 °C. The hemagglutinating activity was also sensitive to NaOH and HCl solutions. The hemagglutinating activity was unaffected by CaCl 2 and ZnCl 2, and was potentiated substantially in the presence of AlCl 3 and FeCl 3. The distinctive features of this lectin comprise a unique sugar specificity, and highly potent hemagglutinating, antiproliferative and anti-mitogenic activities. X. hypoxylon lectin differs in molecular mass, N-terminal sequence and sugar specificity from previously reported ascomycete mushroom lectins.

Purification of two types of gonadotropin receptors from carp ovarian follicles: overlapping recognition by two different ligands

Teleostean gonadotropin receptors were solubilized from the plasma membrane preparation of carp ovarian follicles by lithium diiodosalicylate and Triton X-100. Solubilization resulted fourfold increase in GTH binding activity as compared to the crude plasma membrane preparation. An addition of 25% glycerol and protease inhibitors to the solubilized receptor retained more than 90% original activity at −20 °C for 30 days. Gel filtration through Sephadex G 100 significantly increased the specific binding capacity from 70 fmol/mg protein (soluble receptor) to 250 fmol/mg protein. Peak I of gel filtration showing the receptor activity was further purified by affinity chromatography on purified salmon GTH II — Sepharose with a remarkable increase in specific binding capacity from 250 fmol/mg protein (gel filtration peak) to 2300 pmol/mg protein for salmon GTH I ligand and 2800 pmol/mg protein for GTH II ligand. In SDS–PAGE affinity eluate the active peak showed two distinct bands corresponding to 66 and 62 kDa molecular masses. These two proteins were clearly separated in FPLC Mono S chromatography, 62 kDa as GTHR I and 66 kDa as GTHR II. The former preferably binds to GTH I ligand, while the latter to GTH II, although both demonstrated overlapping recognition to both the ligands. GTH receptor protein I (GTHR I) and II (GTHR II) were purified 42,000- and 54,000-fold, respectively. Competitive binding inhibition studies indicate GTH I and ovine FSH a better ligand for GTHR I, while GTH II and ovine LH were preferable ligands for GTHR II. Biological relevance of these two receptor proteins was ascertained by monitoring the specific binding capacity of GTHR I and II at different stages of the annual reproductive cycle. GTHR I–GTH I was a prevailing complex during preparatory and pre-spawning stages, while GTHR II–GTH II was the dominant one at the maturational and final maturational stages. It may be concluded there are two GTH receptor proteins, each having a preferred ligand. The overlapping ligand-binding activity and profile of each receptor ligand complex suggest their link to seasonal development and maturation of carp ovarian follicle.

Lectins from bulbs of the Chinese daffodil Narcissus tazetta (family Amaryllidaceae).

The isolation of three lectins with similar N-terminal amino acid sequences from the bulbs of the Chinese daffodil Narcissus tazetta was achieved. The isolation protocol involved ion exchange chromatography on DEAE-cellulose, affinity chromatography on mannose-agarose, and fast protein liquid chromatography-gel filtration on Superose 12. The lectins were all adsorbed on mannose-agarose and demonstrated a single band with a molecular weight of 13 kDa in SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and a single 26 kDa peak in gel filtration, indicating that they were mannose-binding, dimeric proteins. The lectins differed in hemagglutinating activity, with the magnitude of the activity correlating with the ionic strength of the buffer required to elute the lectin from the DEAE-cellulose column. The bulb lectin did not exert potent cytotoxicity against cancer cell lines or fetal bovine lung cells but inhibited syncytium formation in, and reinstated viability of, fetal bovine lung cells infected with bovine immunodeficiency virus.

Depolymerisation of mucilage isolated from ruredzo ( Dicerocaryum zanguebarium) by ascorbic acid in the presence of catalysts

No change was observed in the viscosity of samples of mucilage from Dicerocaryum zanguebarium when treated with 5 mM ascorbic acid. Mucilage was treated with ascorbic acid in the presence of copper and iron, and a mixture of the two ions. The effect of treatment was followed by gel filtration of products on a Sepharose 6B column and by measuring the amount of reducing sugars generated by the dinitrosalicylic acid (DNSA) method. The molecular weight of treated samples was lower than that of untreated controls. The amount of reducing groups was found to increase. When the mucilage was treated in a system containing hydrogen peroxide and copper ions, the polymer was also degraded, yielding fragments of lower molecular weight as reflected by the broadened gel filtration peak.

Accurate separation of biliary lipid aggregates requires the correct intermixed micellar/intervesicular bile salt concentration.

The intermixed micellar/intervesicular bile salt (BS) concentration (IMC), composed of BS monomers and simple micelles, is in dynamic equilibrium with mixed micelles and vesicles. Accurate separation of biliary lipid aggregates is believed to depend on accurately measuring the IMC. Using centrifugal ultrafiltration, we measured the IMC of cholesterol-supersaturated model biles that were physiologically composed. Gel chromatography was performed using eluants containing the following: 1) the IMC; 2) the same BS composition as the IMC but higher or lower BS concentrations; 3) the same BS concentration as the IMC, but with more hydrophilic or hydrophobic BS; and 4) 10 mmol/L cholate. Compared with an eluant containing the same BS composition as the IMC, an eluant containing the same relative BS composition but 75% of the IMC increased the proportion of cholesterol in vesicles and decreased the vesicular cholesterol/egg yolk phosphatidylcholine (EYPC) ratio. In contrast, an eluant containing 150% of the IMC entirely transformed vesicles to micelles. Eluants containing slightly more hydrophobic or more hydrophilic BS eliminated or increased vesicular cholesterol content, respectively. An eluant of 10 mmol/L cholate overestimated vesicular cholesterol and in concentrated biles reproducibly produced an incompletely separated intermediate peak, possibly because of re-equilibration between mixed micelles and vesicles. Further, in concentrated biles, fractions eluting at volumes corresponding to mixed micelles were visibly turbid, irrespective of the eluant used. The correct IMC allows accurate separation of biliary lipid aggregates, but differences in BS concentration or composition substantially alter the vesicular percentage of cholesterol as well as the cholesterol/EYPC ratio. Elution with 10 mmol/L cholate may introduce artifactual gel-filtration peaks and inadequate separation of particles with widely differing molecular weights, both of which have confused previous analyses of biliary lipid aggregates.

Monomer-dimer equilibrium of uncomplemented M15 beta-galactosidase from Escherichia coli.

A series of gel filtration, native polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE) and sucrose density experiments showed that uncomplemented M15 beta-galactosidase is in a monomer-dimer equilibrium and that only under some specific conditions does the equilibrium strongly favor dimerization. The ratio of dimer to monomer increased as a function of the protein concentration, and a very good fit to a theoretical plot of the effect of protein concentration on an associating system of this type was found. The Kdiss (equilibrium constant for dimer dissociation) was 2.5 x 10(-7) M. The addition of 20 mM Mg2+ lowered the Kdiss to 1.5 x 10(-7) M, and the addition of 150 mM NaCl lowered the value to 0.4 x 10(-7) M. Thiol reagents (2-mercaptoethanol and dithiothreitol) caused the equilibrium to shift totally to the dimeric form. The monomer-dimer equilibrium was also found to be dependent upon the pH. The dissociation increased as the pH was raised to 8.5, but there was a reversal of the equilibrium in favor of dimer formation at pH 9.0. This suggests that one (or more) residues with a pKa value of about 8.0 is involved. Tyr and Lys were eliminated as possible residues involved and it is, therefore, likely that one or more Cys are involved. Further evidence that uncomplemented M15 beta-galactosidase is in a monomer-dimer equilibrium was that the gel-filtration peaks were not totally resolved and that native PAGE bands were diffuse under all conditions except at high thiol concentration.

Structural features of an arabinan fragment isolated from the water-soluble fraction of dehulled rapeseed

A water-soluble polysaccharide fraction was prepared from dehulled rapeseed meal (winter rapeseed variety Casino). Further purification yielded two major fractions having a high content of arabinose and galactose residues, with Ara/Gal ratios of 5.4 (G1) and 1.8 (G2). The Ara/Gal ratio of the high molecular weight fraction G1 was stable over the whole gel filtration peak, indicating that the arabinose and galactose residues are part of the same polysaccharide. The high molecular weight fraction G1 was studied further by methylation analysis and several NMR techniques. Structural studies showed G1 to consist mainly of arabinan fragments, which have terminal α- l-arabinofuranosyl groups with anomeric carbons bound (1 → 5) (A) or (1 → 2) (B), and 2,5-substituted arabinosyl residues with anomeric carbons bound (1 → 5) (D) or (1 → 2) (C) to adjacent arabinosyl residues. The A:B:C:D ratios were 2:1:1:1 according to results from NMR and methylation analysis.

Selenium-containing peroxidases of germinating barley.

Germinating barley grown on an artificial medium was exposed to 75Se-selenite for 8 d. Then the leaves were homogenized and proteins were separated by means of Sephadex G-150 filtration, followed by DEAE-Sepharose chromatography. Each fraction collected was assayed for total protein, radioactivity, and peroxidase activity. In barley leaves, three protein peaks (peaks no. I, II, and III) with peroxidase activity could be separated by Sephadex G 150 filtration. Each fraction was then further separated on DEAE-Sepharose chromatography. Thus, peaks I and II were resolved by DEAE-Sepharose into one major and two minor peaks of radioactivity. However, only the major peak showed peroxidase activity. Peak III was resolved from the gel filtration on the DEAE-sepharose into one major and four minor peaks of radioactivity. The major and three of the minor radioactivity peaks contained peroxidase activity. The protein fractions were separated by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The molecular weights of separated proteins were estimated by means of molecular markers, and 75Se radioactivity was evaluated by autoradiography. Thus, gel filtration peak I contained four bands with mol wts of 128, 116, 100, and 89 kDa. Of these, the 89 kDa protein contained selenium. Peak II contained three protein bands with mol wts 79.4, 59.6, and 59.9. The 59.6 band was a selenoprotein. Peak III contained four protein bands (and some very weak bands). The four major bands had mol wts of 38.6, 31.6, 30.2, and 29.2 kDa. The last mentioned band was a selenoprotein.

Nuclear DNA Topoisomerases inPisum sativumL.

This paper demonstrates that in nuclei of root meristems of Pisum sativum L. there are at least two, and possibly three, different DNA topoisomerases. One enzyme is unbound by the Mono Q ion exchange column and seems to be similar to eukaryotic type I DNA topoisomerases. The other two enzymes are both retained by the Mono Q ion exchange column but they may be separated by their affinities for a single-strand DNA column. Both enzymes are difficult to classify, but it is likely that one of them is a type II topoisomerase. Prior to fractionation on Mono Q, all these different DNA topoisomerases elute in the same gel filtration peak together with other proteins, including endodeoxyribonuclease, indicating that they might form a native multiprotein complex. The nature, occurrence in vivo, and the functional role of this complex remain to be investigated. Nevertheless, the presence of different DNA topoisomerases in the same meristematic tissue might suggest that different types of topological transformation are required for different activities of DNA, such as replication, transcription and chromosome segregation.

Pancreatic Galanin

Galanin-like immunoreactivity (GalLI) was found to be present in extracts taken from human, canine, and porcine pancreata. The dominant gel filtration peak in each species co-elutes with standard synthetic porcine galanin (Gal), but an apparently smaller molecular weight Gal form was present in human pancreas and intestine and in dog intestine. Reverse-phase HPLC demonstrated identity of porcine pancreatic Gal immunoreactivity with synthetic intestinal Gal. Heterogeneity was seen on reverse-phase HPLC: Human pancreas and intestine had three peaks of immunoreactivity; the retention times were identical between the pancreas and intestinal extracts; and human Gal elutes at an earlier retention time than porcine Gal. Similarly, dog pancreatic GalLI eluted earlier than porcine Gal on reverse-phase HPLC. Immunohistochemical studies revealed the presence of specific staining for GalLI in varicose nerve fibers in the pancreas of the three species. In the dog pancreas an association between Gal-containing nerve fibers and islet cells was readily demonstrable. This was not the case with pig or human pancreas. We conclude that pancreatic Gal is present in the pancreas of the three species and that molecular heterogeneity is similar between intestinal and pancreatic forms. In the dog, a distinct anatomical relationship is demonstrable between Gal-containing nerves and islet cells.

A purified Fasciola gigantica worm antigen for the serodiagnosis of human fascioliasis

Partially purified Fasciola gigantica worm antigens were evaluated in an enzyme-finked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for the specific serological diagnosis of fascioliasis. The diagnostic potential of 10 antigen fractions derived from gel-filtration peaks (II & III) were evaluated individually or in combination against a panel of admission sera obtained from 50 patients subsequently diagnosed as having a variety of systemic parasitic diseases, and from 10 healthy volunteers with no recent history of parasitic infections. Fractions 2 and 10 were highly specific for Fasciola infection and failed to react with sera from any patient with other parasitic diseases or from controls. All other fractions exhibited reactivity with the majority of sera from the fascioliasis patients, but also with some sera from patients infected with other parasites. Based on these results, the ELISA, as outlined here, should be considered as a rapid and specific technique for the diagnosis of fascioliasis and also as an epidemiological surveillance technique in areas endemic for F. gigantica infection.

Amyloid enhancing factor (AEF) in the aging mouse

Amyloid enhancing factor (AEF) activity was tested in spleen homogenates from 52, 28, and 9-week-old untreated mice. Strong AEF activity was present in the supernatant of spleen homogenate from the 52-week-old mice. Only weak activity was observed in the supernatant from the 28-week-old mice, and none was seen in that from the 9-week-old mice. Crude spleen homogenates from the 52-week-old mice were subjected to Sephacryl S-300 gel filtration. AEF activity existed in the first gel filtration peak. These findings suggest that AEF increases in the spleens of aged mice and that AEF may be a substance of high molecular weight.