Chemical characterization of two urinary sialic acid-rich glycopeptides

Isolation and characteristics of human urinary sialoglycoproteins

Three sialoglycoproteins (S1, S2, and S3) have been isolated from normal human urine by ultrafiltration, zone electrophoresis, gel chromatography, and ion-exchange chromatography. The average yields per litre of urine were 0.39 mg (S1), 0.40 mg (S2), and 1.9 mg (S3). The isolated substances were homogeneous on ultracentrifugation both at neutral and acid pH with sedimentation coefficients of 3.6 S (S1), 2.4S (S2), and 0.93S (S3). Equilibrium ultracentrifugation gave molecular weights of 77900 (S1), 37000 (S2), and 5300 (S3). All three components were rich in carbohydrate (64 to 76%) and contained 28 to 35% of sialic acid. Alkaline borohydride degradation of component S3 yielded two sialylated oligosaccharides which were partially characterized. The origin of the isolated substances is unknown. The molecular size of S3 (Stokes' radius of 2.0 nm) is compatible with passage from the blood by glomerular filtration whereas the size of S1 (Stokes' radius of 6.5 nm) would suggest a renal origin.

Large scale preparation of wheat germ agglutinin

A highly active form of wheat germ agglutinin (WGA) was isolated by affinity chromatography on a partially acid hydrolyzed chitin column after extraction of the wheat germ with 0.5 M formic acid and removal of the denatured or water insoluble WGA by dialyzing against distilled water before and after affinity chromatography. The purified preparation was found to be homogeneous by gel filtration, disc electrophoresis, and chemical analysis. It reacted readily with WGA receptors in human serum and urine, giving well-defined bands on agar gel double diffusion and electrophoresis. When chemically coupled to Sepharose the WGA was very reactive with red blood cells, WGA receptors in serum, urine and other biological fluids. The Sepharose-WGA has proven to be stable over a long period of time.