The Conjugated Plasma Proteins of the American Cockroach

Abstract

Five protein fractions have been separated by paper electrophoresis from the plasma of the American cockroach. With the utilization of various staining procedures several of the plasma fractions were shown to be conjugated proteins. Two of these (fractions II and IV) are readily identifiable by their phospholipid, carbohydrate, and protein composition. A third conjugated protein, fraction III, is characterized by its high neutral lipid and sterol content. This lipoprotein is also sex-specific. Another fraction (I) contains neutral lipid, sterol, and protein but electrophoretically is more mobile than fraction III. Fraction V, the last and least mobile of the normally occurring proteins, possesses electrophoretic properties similar to human fibrinogen.