Purification and properties of four biologically active components of whale luteinizing hormone

Four biologically active components of luteinizing hormone (LH), designated as LH I, II, III, and IV, were isolated from whale pituitary glands. These components migrated as single bands with different mobilities in disc electrophoresis, and their isoeletric points were at pH 8.1, 8.3, 8.5, and 8.7, respectively. Their amino acid and carbohydrate compositions showed close similarity. The molecular weight of whale LH was determined to be 31,000 by sedimentation equilibrium, and no difference was detected among the four components. The molecular properties of whale LH were compared with the previously reported data for LH from other animal species.