Identification of a thymic inhibitor ('chalone') of lymphocyte transformation as a spermine complex.

摘要: CHALONES are defined as endogenous, tissue-specific but species nonspecific inhibitors of cell proliferation. Their potential use in the control neoplasia is well recognised1–3. Circumstantial evidence for existence a lymphocyte chalone has been produced4–8, neither its chemical nature nor molecular weight have satisfactorily ascertained. During our search chalone, an inhibitor transformation reproducibly isolated from porcine thymic tissue. We report here that though was non-dialysable, active moiety identified biologically and chemically spermine, only 202. This accords with formation extracts tightly bound spermine complex. As complex displayed some tissue specificity it possible unidentified material acts carrier spermine. In relatively crude tissues probable spermine-elicited inhibition swamps any authentic activity.