Some Analyses of Samples of Bence-jones Protein

The appearance of a peculiar protein in the urine of a person suffering from multiple myeloma was discovered by Bence-Jones in 1847. Since that time proteins having similar characteristics have often been recognized in urine and have been called BenceJones protein. Although hundreds of cases have been reported, very few detailed chemical or immunological studies have been made (1) to determine whether similar or identical proteins are being excreted either by the same individual from time to time or by different individuals. The most complete chemical analyses are those of Abderhalden and Rostoski (2) and of Hopkins and Savory (3). Some special determinations of chemical and physical properties have been made at times by other investigators, which include molecular weight by Svedberg and SjGgren (4), isoelectric point by Mainzer (5), solubility, specific rotation, ultra-violet absorption spectra, etc., by Hewitt (6). Careful immunological studies have been made by Hektoen (7), Bayne-Jones and Wilson (8), and by others. These and other investigations have led to the general conclusion that the substance of protein nature which appears in the urine of certain individuals and has the peculiar property of being insoluble in the faintly acid urine at 60”, yet redissoluble at the boiling point, is a protein chemically and immunologically distinct from the serum and tissue proteins. Some have also concluded that all Bence-Jones proteins are essentially identical in composition and are chemically indistinguishable, while Bayne-Jones and Wilson (S), from immunological studies, have concluded that they are not biologically identical. The origin of these proteins is still obscure. Many theories of