Abstract: | α2-Macroglobulin was purified from plasma of five cystic fibrosis patients and five normal controls. SDS gel electrophoresis of native az-macroglobulin from cystic fibrosis patients and normal donors showed identical subunit molecular weights, as did trypsin cleavage products. Cystic fibrosis and control α2-macroglobulins were indistinguishable by isoelectric focusing and exhibited appropriate shifts in isoelectric point following binding of trypsin. The trypsinbinding capacities of control and cystic fibrosis α2-macroglobulins did not differ, nor did the esterolytic activity of the trypsin-α2-macroglobulin complexes. |