Jacobs on the Nature of Active Liver Material

We have thus far discussed the results obtained by investigators who employed the orthodox chemical procedure of isolation and identification. In 1937, Jacobs (54, 55, 56) reported certain conclusions regarding the chemical character of the active liver matenal which he reached by employing less orthodox means. From a study of the properties exhibited by potent liver extracts, he tried to deduce the chemical native of the anti-anemic principle and test such deductions by synthesis. Some of the considerations which entered into his reasoning follow  

Such a test is negative when applied to the fasting gastric contents of pernicious anemia patients. A positive reaction indicates according to Abderhalden the presence of proteins, proteoses, peptones, or diketo-piperazines. 

He cited as evidence the power of preparations to change hemoglobin 

The fact that aldehydes form polymers suggested the possibility that such aldehydes were present in active antianemic preparations. In support of his suggestion that the active principle functions by way of modifying tryptic digestion is the evidence that the activity of trypsin is inhibited by aldehyde. 

Jacobs reported a reticulocytosis of 14 per cent, 5 days after the subcutaneous injection of an aqueous solution of the product resulting from the interaction of acetaldeh5 de and glucosamine. Previously, this patient had not responded to ventriculin by mouth. However, since three other previously untreated cases failed to respond to similar treatment, no great importance was attached to the one positive result. 

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