AJP - Endocrinology and Metabolism, Vol 261, Issue 4 E516-E524, Copyright © 1991 by American Physiological Society
Big ANF: large-molecular-weight ANF in plasma. I. Gel filtration and affinity chromatography studies
N. Wilson, V. Yakoleff and R. Keeler
Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada.
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.
