Big ANF: large-molecular-weight ANF in plasma. I. Gel filtration and affinity chromatography studies.

A large molecular form of immunoreactive atrial natriuretic factor (irANF) was demonstrated in plasma of rabbit and rat on the basis of gel filtration experiments. This big ANF was not retained by octadecylsilane cartridges and cross-reacted with four anti-ANF antisera of different specificities. Gel filtration in acid, but not in 8 M urea, resulted in material with elution characteristics of irANF. Affinity chromatography and gel electrophoresis of big ANF suggested that the material was similar to albumin. However, high concentrations of big ANF were found in analbuminemic rats, with characteristics similar to those seen in rabbit and normal rats (affinity and gel chromatography and gel electrophoresis). We thus conclude that big ANF represents a bound form of ANF in circulation and that the carrier is similar to but not identical with albumin.