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ABSTRACT RABBIT antibodies of the immunoglobulin G (IgG) class have been shown to be cleaved by pepsin, in the absence of mercaptans, into bivalent fragments1. These fragments, termed
F(ab′)2-fragments, sediment in the ultracentrifuge at 5_S_ and are resistant to further cleavage. Similar products have been observed after peptic digestion of human IgG antibodies2. In
contrast, others found that human immunoglobulin M (IgM) was rapidly degraded by pepsin into a heterogeneous mixture of small fragments3–5. Incubation of IgM cold agglutinins with the enzyme
in buffer at _p_H. 4.0 and 37° C for 30 min, or 4° C for 48 h, resulted in the complete loss of red cell agglutinating activity3. Efforts to demonstrate residual combining activity by an
indirect agglutination technique were unsuccessful. Similarly, treatment of IgM anti-γ-globulins (rheumatoid factors) by pepsin at 4° C for 48 h resulted essentially in complete loss of
activity, as measured by several agglutination methods3. I have examined further the degradation of human IgM anti-γ-globulins by pepsin and present evidence of the production of fragments
that retain the capacity to combine with human IgG. Access through your institution Buy or subscribe This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution ACCESS OPTIONS
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Article Open access 22 August 2023 FROZEN FRESH BLOOD PLASMA PRESERVES THE FUNCTIONALITY OF NATIVE HUMAN Α2-MACROGLOBULIN Article Open access 20 March 2023 THE SPECIFIC CONTRIBUTIONS OF
FACTOR H AND FACTOR I IN CONTROLLING FLUID PHASE ACTIVATION OF THE ALTERNATIVE COMPLEMENT PATHWAY Article Open access 29 March 2025 REFERENCES * Nisonoff, A., Wissler, F. C., Lipman, L. N.,
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(1967). Article ADS CAS Google Scholar Download references AUTHOR INFORMATION AUTHORS AND AFFILIATIONS * University of Alabama in Birmingham, Medical Center, Birmingham, Alabama, 35233
RALPH E. SCHROHENLOHER Authors * RALPH E. SCHROHENLOHER View author publications You can also search for this author inPubMed Google Scholar RIGHTS AND PERMISSIONS Reprints and permissions
ABOUT THIS ARTICLE CITE THIS ARTICLE SCHROHENLOHER, R. Degradation of Human IgM Anti-γ-Globulin by Pepsin provides Evidence of an Active Fragment. _Nature_ 223, 308–310 (1969).
https://doi.org/10.1038/223308a0 Download citation * Received: 27 March 1969 * Issue Date: 19 July 1969 * DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/223308a0 SHARE THIS ARTICLE Anyone you share the
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