Scientific Proceedings. 



161 



and Gies 1 were begun. The differences between the above figures 

 for nitrogen and hydrogen contents harmonize with the observation 

 by Emmett and Gies that nitrogen is eliminated as ammonia when 

 collagen is converted into gelatin by treatment with hot water, and 

 also strengthen their conclusion that gelatin is not a simple hydrate 

 of collagen. 



113 (256) 



On the fate of elastose after its subcutaneous or intraperi- 

 toneal injection : a preliminary inquiry into the origin 

 and nature of Bence Jones's protein. 



By REUBEN OTTENBERG and WILLIAM J. GIES. 



[From the Laboratory of Biological Chemistry, of Columbia Univer- 

 sity, at the College of Physicians and Surgeons .] 



Bence Jones's protein and crude elastose not only have several 

 proteose properties in common, but, unlike the ordinary pro- 

 teoses, each is precipitated from its aqueous solution when the 

 latter is gently warmed. Bence Jones's protein occurs in the urine 

 of patients suffering from sarcoma of bone marrow or from osteo- 

 malacia. 2 Bone contains considerable elastin-like material. The 

 senior author's study of ligament elastin and its digestion prod- 

 ucts 3 and his isolation and analysis of osseoalbumoid, 4 an elastin- 

 like constituent of bone, led him to think that Bence Jones's pro- 

 tein might be a transformation product of osseoalbumoid, although 

 there are a number of important objections to such a view. At 

 all events, the possibility that Bence Jones's protein may be a 

 derivative of osseoalbumoid, and the great desirability of making 

 our knowledge of this elusive protein more definite, led us to begin 

 a study of a preliminary phase of the work that will be necessary 

 to determine the points at issue. 



1 Emmett and Gies : Proceedings of the American Society of Biological Chemists, 

 Washington, 1907 ; Journal of Biological Chemist)y, 1 907, Hi, p. xxxiii. Also Pro- 

 ceedings of the American Physiological Society, Washington, 1907 ; American Journal 

 of Physiology, 1907, xix, p. xi. 



2 When such urines are warmed, Bence Jones's protein, if present, is precipitated. 

 3 Richards and Gies: American Journal of Physiology, 1902, vii, p. 93; also, 



Gies and collaborators : Biochemical Researches, 1903, i, Reprint No. 4. 



4 Hawk and Gies : American Journal of Physiology, 1902, vii, p. 340 ; also Gies 

 and collaborators : Biochemical Researches, 1903, i, Reprint No. 6. 



