Partial purification of rat α-lactalbumin mRNA

Abstract
α-Lactalbumin messenger RNA was partially purified from RNA extracted from 3–5 day lactating rat mammary glands on a poly(U)-sepharose column followed by sucrose gradient centrifugation. α-Lactalbumin mRNA activity was assayed in wheat germ cell-free translational system by immunoprecipitation of the in vitro synthesized protein using specific antiserum prepared against purified rat α-lactalbumin. In the purified mRNA preparation a-lactalbumin mRNA activity comprised approximately 85% of the total mRNA activity.