Human placenta as a convenient source of creatine kinase BB

We demonstrate that human placenta is a convenient source of creatine kinase isoenzyme BB. We compare the physicochemical and catalytic properties with those of other creatine kinase isoenzymes: purified human abdominal muscle MM and brain BB. We also describe a stabilizing medium for creatine kinase BB. Human placental and brain BB have similar catalytic properties, the respective Km values for creatine phosphate being 0.66 and 0.56 mmol/L and for adenosine diphosphate 89 and 70 nmol/L.