SODIUM DODECYL SULFATE-CAPILLARY GEL-ELECTROPHORETIC ANALYSIS OF MOLECULAR-MASS MICROHETEROGENEITY OF BETA-TRACE PROTEIN IN CEREBROSPINAL-FLUID FROM PATIENTS WITH CENTRAL-NERVOUS-SYSTEM DISEASES

Molecular mass (M-r) microheterogeneity of beta-trace protein (beta TP ) in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) from patients with various neurological disorders was analyzed by sodium dodecyl sulfate capillary gel electr ophoresis. Under the conditions employed, beta TP with a M-r distribut ion of 23 000-30 000 was roughly separated into two subfractions conta ining the major peaks with M-r of 26 000 and 28 500, respectively. The peak area ratios of the two subfractions on the electropherograms var ied among the samples examined, and elevation in the total beta TP lev el in the CSF from patients with organic diseases in the central nervo us system (CNS) was often accompanied by changes in the ratios of the subfractions. The quantitative changes in the subfraction level in CSF beta TP are considered to reflect the pathological alterations in the CNS. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science B.V.