DETECTION OF A HIGH-MOLECULAR-WEIGHT HEPARIN-BINDING ACIDIC GROWTH-FACTOR IN HUMAN PLACENTA

A heparin binding fibroblast growth factor with a molecular weight of approximately 45 kDa has been detected in human placenta. The protein was extracted from placenta and purified by a combination of ammonium sulfate precipitation, DE-52 anion exchange chromatography, G100 gel e xclusion and heparin sepharose affinity chromatography. The molecule w as shown to be monomeric after treatment with beta-mercaptoethanol, an d had an acidic isoelectric point. The properties of the polypeptide d escribed in this paper (45 kDa, Pi 4-5, monomeric, heparin binding fib roblast growth factor), suggest that it may represent an as yet undesc ribed growth factor.