Molecular size of rabbit C-reactive protein synthesized in vitro.

This study was performed to determine whether immunologically detectable C-reactive protein synthesized by rabbit liver mince in vitro is a micro- or macromolecular precursor of CRP, or if it is native CRP. Employing gel filtration and density gradient techniques, the molecular size of CRP newly synthesized by minced rabbit liver from inflamed rabbits was found identical with that of native CRP. Since no evidence for hepatic synthesis of a precursor can be shown, increased CRP formation after inflammation must result from increased de novo synthesis.