On the heterogenetic haptene.

Abstract

In a previous communication 1 it was stated that active fractions of the specific part of the heterogenetic antigen, haptene, were obtained by fractional precipitation with alcohol from a solution in chloroform. The material obtained in this manner was extracted with hot alcohol. The residue was dissolved in water. On the addition of an equal volume of alcohol a precipitate formed. This precipitate was further dissolved in pyridine at 60° to 70° C. A smaller insoluble part was removed (although it also was active) and from the remaining solution, on addition of acetone, the material settled out. This product was soluble in water, unlike the known cerebrosides. It was practically insoluble in ether, acetone and cold 2 alcohol. On shaking with absolute alcohol at room temperature a little more than one part in 1000 went into solution. In hot alcohol it was soluble to the extent of about 1/2 per cent. While at first it did not seem possible to make a filterable chloroform solution, a colloidal solution in chloroform (strong Tyndall phenomenon) could now be obtained from which the substance did not separate on cooling or on concentration to a small volume. From a chloroform solution of the substance very little passed into water on shaking and conversely, chloroform extracted very little of the substance from an aqueous solution.

A 5 per cent solution of the product in water gave a rotation of approximately [α]_D = + 20°, in pyridine [α] = + 10°. With orcinol, hydrochloric acid and copper sulfate or ferrous sulfate the preparation gives a purple color.

On heating 1/2 with normal hydrochloric acid from 5 to 15 minutes a precipitate is formed. At the same time the serological activity is almost entirely destroyed.