Separation by different methods of soluble proteins isolated from sympathetic splenic nerves

The soluble proteins of sympathetic splenic nerves were separated by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), sodium dodecyl sulphate (SDS)-HPLC on TSK-GEL-SW columns and SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE). With HPLC the main fractions had apparent molecular weights Mr 150,000, 75,000-85,000, 27,000 and less 5000, with SDS-HPLC the Mr values were 75,000, 13,500 and less 5000 and with SDS-PAGE the Mr were 75,000, 55,000, 45,000 and less 12,500. Of the proteins eluted after electrofocusing, the bands of pH 4.0-5.2 showed a single peak of Mr 75,000 in all separation methods used; in the range pH 5.8-6.5, proteins with Mr 150,000 were found by HPLC, 75,000 by SDS-HPLC and 55,000 and 45,000 by SDS-PAGE. The Mr 150,000 fraction in the range pH 5.8-6.5 showed DOPA decarboxylase (E.C. 4.1.1.28) activity. The results provide new information about the soluble proteins of sympathetic nerve.