Characterization of a heterogeneous chicken plasma protein, HEF, by analytical isotachophoresis in agarose gel.

Chicken plasma contains proteins that associate with immunoglobulin. One of these proteins enhances the titre of haemagglutinating alloantibodies, and it was therefore named HEF, haemagglutination enhancing factor. A purified HEF preparation mixed with ampholytes splits into four bands in analytical agarose isotachophoresis. One of the HEF bands can be separated from two others with beta-alanine as discrete spacer. The separated HEF populations differ in molecular size and in their ability to enhance agglutination.