High-performance liquid chromatography (muBondapak C18 column with 0.05% trifluoroacetic acid in acetonitrile as solvent system) was used to isolate thymosin alpha 1 (alpha 1) from thymosin fraction 5 (f5) of various species (calf, pig, sheep and mouse). Each of the f5 preparations gave a protein peak similar in retention time to bovine thymosin alpha 1. This peak coincided with the immunoreactive peak determined by a radioimmunoassay for alpha 1. Chromatographic analysis of fresh thymus tissue extracts using a high-performance liquid chromatographic similar system did not reveal a detectable protein peak or immunoreactive peak at the alpha 1 position. Our results suggest that alpha 1 may be synthesized in a precursor form in animal tissues.
Authors
Low, T L; McClure, J E; Naylor, P H; Spangelo, B L; Goldstein, A L