Brief characterization of muskrat (Ondatra zibethicus) immunoglobulin G (IgG) separated from serum on protein A

Muskrat (Ondatra zibethicus) immunoglobulin fraction was separated from whole serum by Protein A Sepharose chromatography. In serum electrophoresis, this fraction had a gamma motility; when electrophoresed on a polyacrylamide gel with sodium dodecyl sulfate it resolved into two protein bands of approximately 52 and 25 kilodaltons, respectively. These bands were consistent with molecular weights of known heavy and light chains of immunoglobulin G (IgG) in other closely related species. Furthermore, the putative muskrat immunoglobulins had a strong cross-reactivity with mouse IgG1, IgG3, and kappa chain in an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. We propose, that the proteins bound to the Protein A Sepharose represent muskrat immunoglobulins of the IgG class.