Bovine brain S100 proteins: separation and characterization of a new S100 protein species.

Three S100 protein species (S100a, S100b, S100a') have been purified from bovine brain using a modification of standard preparative methods. A higher yield for each protein was obtained at the last separation step. Characterization by urea/sodium dodecyl sulfate/polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, UV absorption spectra, and fluorescence parameters provided evidence of a new tryptophan-containing S100 protein called S100a', which exhibits, as S100a and S100b, the properties of a Ca2+ binding protein.