A Simple Method for Preparing Fibrinogen

Abstract

A simple new procedure is reported for the isolation of canine, bovine, porcine, and human fibrinogen. Two molar β-alanine is used to precipitate fibrinogen from barium sulfate adsorbed plasma. The procedure is characterized by dependability and high yields. The material is 95% to 98% clottable protein but still contains impurities such as plasminogen and fibrin-stabilizing factor. Plasminogen may be removed by adsorption with charcoal. The fibrinogen preparations exhibit marked stability to freezing, lyophilization, and dialysis. Epsilon-amino-n-caproic acid and gamma-aminobutyric acid which were also studied have the property of precipitating proteins from plasma but lack the specificity for fibrinogen found with β-alanine. ^* This investigation was supported by USPHS grants HE-01648 and HE-06350 from the National Institutes of Health. ^** This investigator was supported by USPHS research career program award (K3-HE-1147).