Abstract
Molecular weight of the major bifidus factor (I) in carrot was less than 700. I was strongly acidic and converted to a still strongly acidic active compound (II) with alkaline phosphatase. I and II changed to D-pantetheine 4'-phosphate (P-PaSH) and D-pantetheine (PaSH) with KCN or 2-mercaptoethanol, conversely in 0.1M NaHCO3, P-PaSH and PaSS (D-pantethine) gradually and partially changed to I and II, respectively. These fact suggested that I and II were oxidation products of P-PaSH and PaSS. Among possible oxidation products of PaSS synthesized, D-Pantetheine-S-sulfonic acid (PaSSO2H) was active and coincided with II. Synthesized 4'-phospho-D-pantetheine-S-sulfonic acid (P-PaSSO3H) was also active and identified with I by the behaviors in thin-layer chromatography, paper electrophoresis, amino acid analysis, infrared and nuclear magnetic resonance spectra. The possibility to be an artifact of P-PaSSO3H was deniable, since a column chromatogram on DEAE-Sephadex of direct methanol extract of raw carrot root showed the identical peak. The biochemical and medical significances of the new compound P-PaSSO3H are discussed.
