Separation of antibodies from subcellular components of lymphocytes

Soluble supernatant fluids obtained from disrupted human lymphocytes were fractionated by gel filtration and ion exchange chromatography. Three populations of antibody molecules were obtained. One of these was a fragment of γG globulin; the remaining two were γG globulins immunologically indistinguishable from serum γG globulins. Of these last two populations, one was associated with residues of ribonucleic acid; the other with residues of deoxyribonucleic acid. The latter was linked by a disulphide bond to an acidic acceptor protein; the acceptor in turn appeared chemically bound to nuclear DNA. Uptake of antigen by lymphocytes occurred only when antibody was bound to the acceptor (activated antibody).