The catalase protein of acatalasemic and hypocatalasemic red blood cells. I. Quantitative precipitin studies on hemolysate and acetone extract

In order to know the precise quantity of catalase protein in acatalasemic and hypocatalasemic blood, immunological studies were conducted using hemolysates or acetone extracts of those blood as antigen. 1) The ratio of catalase contained in normal, hypocatalasemic and acatalasemic blood, calculated from precipitates produced in the reaction between catalase antibody and hemolysates was 1.0 : 0.5 : 0.07. 2) The ratio of catalase in normal, hypocatalasemic and acatalasemic blood, calculated from precipitates from the catalase antibody and the acetone extracts was 1.0: 0.49 : 0.11. In the precipitin ring tests using acetone extract, the antigen titer in normal, hypocatalasemic and acatalasemic extracts was 40, 20, and 0 respectively. 3) From our experiments it can be said that hypocatalasemic blood shows one half the catalase activity of normal blood, due to one half the quantity of catalase protein, and that acatalasemic blood lacks catalase activity due to the absence of the catalase protein. These findings strongly suggest that no substances exist which suppress or inhibit the catalase activity in hypocatalasemic and acatalasemic blood.