[The evolutionary problems of the family of human and animal macroglobulins]

Studies have been made on physicochemical and immunochemical properties of macroglobulins, as well as of associated with pregnancy glycoproteins, from human subjects, mammals, birds, fishes and invertebrates. It was shown that these proteins exhibit similar composition, structure and capacity to bind proteinases inhibiting the latter. Using immunochemical methods, reactions of antigenic identity of these proteins were investigated. A hypothesis of evolutionary formation of macroglobulin family is discussed.