Abstract: An apparatus for staining and destaining one or more slab gels subsequent to electrophoresis comprises a liquid impermeable enclosure having a bottom, a sidewall portion attached to the bottom and a removable top. A plurality of channels are formed in the sidewall portion of the container. At least one and preferably a plurality of cassettes are provided for retaining the slab gels. The cassettes are disposed within the channels. Each cassette comprises a pair of plates that are hinged together at one end and have a lock at the other end to secure the plates together. Each of the plates has a recess therein and a fluid permeable mesh covers each recess to form a slab gel retaining chamber therebetween. Depending upon the fluid used in the container, the slab gels can either be stained or destained. An advantage of the present apparatus is that the slab gels can be removed from the container without having to pour-off the staining or destaining solutions, thus achieving economy of material usage.

Abstract: A purified peptide isolated from fibrinogen Fragment D.sub.1 and having the amino acid sequence Thr-Arg-Trp-Tyr-Ser-Met-Lys-Lys-Thr-Thr-Met-Lys-Ile-Ile-Pro-Phe-Asn-Arg-Le u-Thr-Ile-Gly-Glu-Gly-Gln-Gln-His-His-Leu-Gly-Gly-Ala-Lys-Gln-Ala-Gly-Asp-V al. The peptide is isloated by degrading Fragment D.sub.1 of fibrinogen with plasmin followed by separation of the resulting peptides on the basis of molecular weight and affinity for bound fibrin monomer. The purified peptide is useful as an anticoagulant and, when suitably labeled with a gamma-emitting radioisotope, as a thrombus imaging agent.

Abstract: A method of locating thrombi in vivo comprising the steps of administering a radiolabeled peptide selected from the group consisting of Fragment E.sub.1 isolated from cross-linked fibrin, Fragment E.sub.2 isolated from crosslinked fibrin, and peptides having an amino acid sequence intermediate between Fragments E.sub.1 and E.sub.2 derived from crosslinked fibrin by plasmin digestion to a human or animal wherein the peptide is selectively incorporated or bound by forming a pre-formed thrombi and externally detecting the radiation emitted by the radiolabeled peptide. A composition containing the peptide used for locating thrombi is also disclosed.

Abstract: Novel fibrinolytic factors obtained from the salivary glands of Haementeria ghilianii. Proteins having molecular weights under about 100,000 are isolated from the salivary glands of H. ghilianii. The proteins show cathodic mobility in electrophoresis and uninhibited peptidase activity with fibrinogen in plasma.