THE PREPARATION OF LYSINE, HISTIDINE, AND ARGININE FROM HYDROLYZED BLOOD CORPUSCLE PASTE BY ELECTRICAL TRANSPORT

Abstract

In seeking economical methods for the preparation of the amino acids, we have made use of the excellent procedure of Foster and Schmidt (1921-22, 1923, 1926;Ikeda and Suzuki, 1912) for the preparation of lysine, histidine, and arginine by electrical transport from hydrolyzed protein.This communication records our experience in the practical separation of the amino acids of hydrolyzed blood corpuscle paste.We have selected that starting material because it is readily available and yields large amounts of the basic amino acids, particularly lysine and histidine.We have made the following modifications of the Foster and Schmidt apparatus and procedure.Our three compartment cells are constructed of thoroughly paraffined white pine.The diaphragms between the compartments are of parchmentized paper, instead of linen coated with formaldehyde-treated gelatin.Cooling is effected by passing a stream of water through 10 mm.glass tubes in the form of a series of S-bends placed between the carbon electrodes and the diaphragms.It is not necessary to stir the center compartment or to regulate the pH of any of the compartments during the transport of the amino acids from the hydrolyzed protein.During the retreatment for the separation of histidine, we have added sulfuric acid to the anode compartment to increase the conductivity of the cell.From the solutions obtained after electrical transport we have separated arginine as the flavianate, lysine as the picrate, and histidine as 755