Low molecular weight L-chain components related to Bence-Jones proteins.

Abstract

Abstract During preparation of Bence-Jones proteins from urines of a group of 15 patients with multiple myeloma, a patient was found to excrete 2 molecular forms of L-chain-related materials of 1.8S and 3.0S. The smaller L-chain component had a molecular weight of 11,600 and was antigenically deficient with respect to the larger component (Mol. wt. 33,900) by Ouchterlony analysis and quantitative precipitin curves. Relative proportions of the lower molecular weight L-chain component excreted in urines examined over a 12 month interval declined with coincident slight improvement in clinical renal function. Both the low molecular weight and higher molecular weight L-chain components reacted with kappa type-specific rabbit antisera.