Electrophoretic studies of the conversion products of serum beta-1C-globulin.

By the method of antigen—antibody crossed electrophoresis where the antigens after a first separation in agarose gel are driven into a new antibody containing gel, serum β-globulin and its conversion products were analysed in native serum as well as after addition of EDTA, incubation with immunoprecipitate and hydrazine, and after inactivation at 56°. It is shown that β-globulin can be converted not only to β-globulin or components with the same mobility as β-globulin but also to additional components, one in the α-region, one in the inter-β-region and one in the γ-region. α- and inter-β-components are seen especially in serum to which EDTA has been added. EDTA did not inhibit the spontaneous conversion of β-globulin.