Some Properties of the Encephalopathic Agent in Primate Bone Marrow (the Gordon Agent)

The nature of the encephalopathic agent present in monkey bone marrow has been investigated. It is readily soluble at a pH of 7.4, as well as at the low pH of 2.0 and 3.0. The point of minimal solubility is pH 4.2. Heat inactivation is produced by a temperature of 75 degrees C., acting for 15 minutes. The agent is digested by pepsin. It exhibits a slight degree of sedimentation with the air-driven centrifuge. It is non-dialyzable. It is precipitated from solution (pH 7.4) by ammonium sulfate, over a range of 0.4 to 0.8 saturation. These findings all suggest that the agent is a protein. No immunological reactions could be elicited.