The proteolysis of immunoglobulin G with long-acting thyroid-stimulating activity

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Abstract
Proteolysis of immunoglobulin G with long-acting thyroid-stimulating activity with papain and pepsin shortened the duration of thyroid stiumlation in mice prepared for the McKenzie (1958) bioassay. The time-course appeared to be related to molecular size. The activity after proteolysis was recovered solely in the electrophoretically slow Fab-fragment. There was no immunological cross-reaction between pituitary thyroid-stimulating hormone and the active fragments of the long-acting thyroid stimulator despite their similar behaviour in the bioassay. The implications of these findings are discussed.