ZONE ELECTROPHORESIS OF THE PROTEINS OF THE FOWL'S SERUM AND EGG YOLK

Abstract

In addition to the six protein fractions distinguishable in sera from cocks or sexually immature pullets by zone electrophoresis in aqueous veronal, two lipoprotein zones have now been distinguished in sera from laying hens or estrogenized pullets by this same technique. Phosvitin has been detected in serum of estrogenized hens by zone electrophoresis of a saline solution of crude serum lipovitellin obtained from the serum. Six protein zones have been distinguished in similar electropherograms of egg yolk. The six protein zones have been identified provisionally, and in order of decreasing mobility under the conditions used, as phosvitin, α-livetin, β-livetin, γ-livetin, lipoprotein P-1 (possibly a lipovitellenin complex), and lipoprotein P-2 (possibly a lipovitellin complex). Evidence is submitted that the foregoing two major lipoprotein zones from egg yolk are closely similar to, or identical with, the two lipoprotein zones from sera of laying hens or estrogenized pullets. The status of a seventh minor protein zone in electropherograms of yolk protein is uncertain.