The isolation and immunological properties of two arginase forms from human erythrocytes.

1. Two forms of arginase were isolated from human erythrocytes; the main form adsorbed on CM-cellulose and the second form, occurring in much smaller amount, adsorbed on DEAE-cellulose. 2. The molecular weight of either arginase was 120,000 +/- 5000. 3. The erythrocyte arginases are similar in immunological properties to arginase A4 from human kidney and A2 from human liver, respectively. 4. Despite the literature data stating that human erythrocyte arginase and human liver arginase are identical, it was found that the main forms of arginase of these tissues A4 from erythrocytes and A5 from liver differ in immunological properties.