THE ARRANGEMENT OF THE PEPTIDE CHAINS IN γ-GLOBULIN

Abstract

The proposed structure, of four peptide chains with five interchain disulphide bonds, of gamma-globulin has been tested by isolation and characterization of the constituent chains. The amino acids, carbohydrate and N-terminal amino acids of rabbit gamma-globulin have been accounted for in terms of the chains. The papain-digestion pieces have been correlated with peptide chains and they have themselves been dissociated into their respective chains. These have in turn been analysed and characterized. The carbohydrate associated with papain-digestion piece I has been shown to be due to non-covalently bound glycopeptide, and analysis suggested that the carbohydrate of rabbit gamma-globulin is present on the molecule in two parts. The antibody-combining site of horse antibody is associated with chain A.