Improved recovery of somatomedin activity from plasma by prolonged formic acid extraction

Recovery of somatomedin activity from plasma fractions was increased approximately 5-fold by prolonged extraction of isolates with formic acid. Extraction for 72 hours enhanced the yields of active peptides in the 6,000, 8,000 and > 20,000 dalton range. Yields of smaller peptides were similar following short (2 hrs) and long (72 hrs) extraction periods. Active fractions obtained after prolonged extraction possessed sulfation activity and insulin-receptor affinity comparable to somatomedin isolated during short extraction with formic acid.