An Estimation of the Nature of Nucleoproteins by an Analytical Method

IN previous publications 1,2 we have shown that a very constant relationship exists between the amount of deoxyribonucleic acid and the amount of arginine in the nucleus of an erythrocyte; we found the ratio 5.0 in the erythrocytes of all the species we studied (trout, pike, carp, tench, perch, barbel, roach). In the case of spermatozoa of some of these species, we found that this ratio is not the same as in erythrocytes. When the sperm contains a typical protamine (trout, pike), the ratio deoxyribonucleic acid/arginine is 1.6; in other cases (carp, tench) this ratio approximates to 5.0, just as in somatic nuclei.