Abstract
Summary
1) Sonic disintegration puts about 90% gonococcal endotoxin into a soluble state as contrasted with 50% yields by earlier methods. Most fractions obtained by this physical procedure did not differ statistically among themselves in toxicity, but all of them were invariably more toxic than the product obtained by extraction of gonococcal cells at an alkaline pH. It is believed these methods will be useful in biological studies where cell-free, chemically unchanged fractions are desired. 2) Phenol-water mixtures are suitable for removal of the protein component from nucleoprotein complex of N. gonorrhoeae endotoxin. The protein-free endotoxin contains mainly polysaccharide and NA. The dried product is more toxic than those obtained by other methods. It dissolves readily in water resulting in a slightly opalescent solution. This fraction should be useful in studies where portein-free material is desired.
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