Bence Jones protein
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A Bence Jones protein is a protein often found in the blood and urine of patients with multiple myeloma. The proteins are immunoglobulin free light chains (paraproteins) and are produced by defective plasma cell function. The light chains can be detected by heating or electrophoresis of concentrated urine. Light chains precipitate when heated to 50 - 60 degrees C and redisolve at 90 -100 degrees C. There are various rarer conditions which can produce Bence Jones proteins, such as Waldenström's macroglobulinemia and other malignanices.
The Bence Jones protein was described by the English physician Henry Bence Jones in 1847 and published in 1848.[1] The protein was later sequenced by Frank Putnam at the laboratory of Fred Sanger in Cambridge, who was the first to report the entire sequence.
[edit] Reference
- ^ Jones HB. "On a new substance occurring in the urine of a patient with mollities ossium." Phil Trans R Soc Lond 1848;138:55-62.
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