Solubilization and enrichment of boar sperm membrane proteins

Boar sperm membranes are rather resistent to the solubilizing effect of some detergents. Deoxycholate, an ionic detergent, was efficient in solubilizing sperm proteins but some nonionic detergents like Triton X-100 displayed relatively poor capacity in rendering membrane proteins soluble. This may be due to sperm proteins being attached to submembraneous structures through bonds involving divalent cations, since mixtures of Triton X-100 and ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid (EDTA) were almost as efficient as deoxycholate in solubilizing membrane proteins. Since intact spermatozoa were directly treated with detergents the solubilized proteins comprised a mixture of intracellular and membrane components. To enrich for membrane proteins, affinity chromatography on columns containing different lectins was carried out. SDS polyacryiamide gel electrophoresis of sperm glycoproteins desorbed from the various lectin columns demonstrated that each lectin bound a unique set of components although most glycoproteins were recovered from two or more columns. Columns containing Lens culinaris hemagglutinin yielded more sperm glycoproteins than any of the other lectin columns examined. The predominant amount of the sperm proteins recovered from the Lens culinaris lectin column was membrane derived, as the majority of the proteins were integrated into liposomes. It is concluded that sperm membrane proteins are efficiently solubilized by detergent in the presence of a chelator and that most of the membrane glycoproteins can easily be enriched by affinity chromatography on a lectin column. Proteins obtained in this way should serve as excellent starting material for the isolation of individual sperm membrane proteins.     

Isolation, characterization, and localization of the zona pellucida binding proteins of boar sperm

In order to isolate the putative zona pellucida-binding proteins (ZPBPs) from boar spermatozoa, a new, simple method has been developed. The new isolation strategy made the most of the highly specific interactions between the components of the gametes. Detergent-extracted boar sperm proteins were submitted to affinity chromatography on a ZP-Sepharose column. SDS-PAGE analyses of the retained fraction under reducing conditions revealed that in addition to a component of Mr 38,000, the predominant ZPBPs contained at least three low molecular weight proteins (Mr less than 20 kDa). The isolated ZPBPs were effective in blocking sperm-oocyte binding in vitro. Using immunofluorescence microscopy, the ZPBPs were shown to be localized primarily in the sperm head, especially in the acrosomal cap region.     

Zinc-binding proteins from boar seminal plasma -- isolation, biochemical characteristics and influence on spermatozoa stored at 4°C

Affinity chromatography on Chelating Sepharose Fast Flow Gel-Zn(2+) was used for fractionation of boar seminal plasma proteins. Approximately 30% of total boar seminal plasma proteins showed affinity for zinc ions (ZnBP fraction). Native electrophoresis (PAGE) of ZnBP revealed six protein fractions which separated into 27 bands under denaturing conditions (SDS/PAGE). Two-dimensional electrophoresis (2D PAGE) showed 148 polypeptides with isoelectric points mostly in the basic and neutral pH range. The zinc-binding proteins comprise mainly 10-20 kDa polypeptides which are probably members of the spermadhesin family. ZnBP present in the incubation mixture of spermatozoa stored for 1 or 24 h at 4 °C allowed preservation of a higher percentage of cells exhibiting linear motility in comparison to a control sample stored in PBS. Presented results indicate that proteins binding Zn(2+) ions have a shielding effect on the sperm plasma membrane and acrosome of spermatozoa, protecting these structures against consequences of cold shock.     

Detection of glycoproteins in the Acanthamoeba plasma membrane

In the present study we have shown that glycoproteins are present in the plasma membrane of Acanthamoeba castellanii by utilizing different radioactive labeling techniques. Plasma membrane proteins in the amoeba were iodinated by 125I-lactoperoxidase labeling and the solubilized radiolabeled glycoproteins were separated by lectin-Sepharose affinity chromatography followed by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The periodate/NaB3H4 and galactose oxidase/NaB3H4 labeling techniques were used for labeling of surface carbohydrates in the amoeba. Several surface-labeled glycoproteins were observed in addition to a diffusely labeled region with Mr of 55,000-75,000 seen on electrophoresis, which could represent glycolipids. The presence of glycoproteins in the plasma membrane of Acanthamoeba castellanii was confirmed by metabolic labeling with [35S]methionine followed by lectin-Sepharose affinity chromatography and polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis.     

Immunochemical reactivity of simian sarcoma virus polypeptides isolated by preparative sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis

The polypeptides associated with a zonal centrifugation purified simian sarcoma virus propagated in lymphoblastoid NC-37 cells were isolated by preparative polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis in the presence of sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) using a procedure designed to minimize the loss of immunochemical reactivity. The proteins p10, p15, p28, p36, p44, p75, and p86 were obtained in large yield and high degree of homogeneity. The electrophoretically purified p28 was analyzed by competition radioimmunoassay using antiserum to a pore exclusion and ion exchange purified simian sarcoma virus p28. Complete competition was observed with extracts of simian sarcoma virus infected cells. No competition was observed with uninfected or unrelated, infected cell extracts. The antigen-antibody affinity as measured by the slope of the competition curve using antiserum to p28 and 125I-labeled and electrophoretically purified p28 was the same as that for the p28 released from sonication-disrupted simian sarcoma virus. The data indicates that preparative purifications by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis in the presence of SDS may be generally applicable for the isolation of proteins with essentially the same immunospecificities and affinity for a specific antiserum as proteins isolated by procedures that avoid the use of SDS and electrophoresis.     

Partial purification and characterization of Schistosoma mansoni soluble egg antigen with Con A-Sepharose chromatography

A crude preparation of Schistosoma mansoni soluble egg antigen (SEA) was subjected to affinity chromatography with concanavalin A (Con A) bound to Sepharose 4B. The resulting Con A fractions (bound and unbound) were characterized with sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) gel electrophoresis, immunoelectrophoresis, immunodiffusion, and lymphocyte blastogenesis techniques. In the fraction that did not bind to Con A there were at least two distinct antigens, and there were also at least two distinct antigens in the fractions that did bind to Con A. With SDS polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, at least 20 distinct protein bands (Coomassie blue staining) and three glycoprotein bands (PAS reactive) were present in the unbound fractions from Con A chromatography. The bound fractions separated into at least six distinct glycoproteins with SDS electrophoresis. Although both the bound and unbound fractions contained precipitating antigens, only the bound fractions were capable of eliciting lymphocyte blastogenic responses.     

A collagen-binding protein on the surface of ejaculated rabbit spermatozoa

A rabbit antibody to mouse 3T3 cell fibronectin was used in conjunction with a fluorescein-tagged second antibody to detect fibronectin-like activity on the surface of rabbit spermatozoa. Only ejaculated sperm displayed an intense and highly localized fluorescence over the acrosomal region. Cauda epididymal sperm of the rabbit as well as several other species did not exhibit any reaction. The fluorescent activity could be eliminated by trypsin treatment but was re- established by incubation in cell-free seminal fluid. Sperm recovered from females 10-12 h after mating showed a reduction or absence of antifibronectin fluorescence, suggesting that this component's loss could be a factor in sperm capacitation. Because fibronectins show strong binding to collagen, mixtures of ejaculated sperm and collagen were examined in the light and electron microscope. Living sperm appear to have a strong affinity for collagen and quickly adhere to the filaments by their heads, while continuing vigorous flagellations. Surface labeling of sperm with the galactose-oxidase-NaB[3H]4 technique, extraction with urea-detergent mixtures and affinity chromatography of extracts on gelatin-Sepharose revealed a single radioactive band of mot wt approximately 40,000 after SDS polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and fluorography.     

FRACTIONATION OF SOLUBLE BRAIN GLYCOPROTEINS BY AFFINITY AND HYDROXYLAPATITE CHROMATOGRAPHY

—A separation of soluble brain proteins and Con A-binding glycoproteins by chromatography on calcium hydroxylapatite in the presence of SDS is described. Seventeen Coomassie Blue-stained bands were detected by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis in SDS of Con A-binding glycoproteins of the soluble fraction of rat brain: 16 of these were found by in vivo uptake of [³H]fucose to be fucosylglycoproteins. Hydroxylapatite chromatography yielded several glycoprotein pools, each of which was shown by gel electrophoresis to contain between 4 and 8 individual glycoproteins. Such pools were enriched in [³⁶H]fucose relative to the brain soluble fraction by factors of between 6 and 21. Preliminary experiments demonstrate that this method is also applicable to the fractionation of membrane-bound glycoproteins.     

Monoclonal antibodies to rabbit sperm autoantigens. II. Inhibition of human sperm penetration of zona-free hamster eggs

Monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) to the rabbit sperm autoantigens RSA-1, 2 and 3 were found to cross-react with human ejaculated spermatozoa. The mAbs show by indirect immunofluorescent staining that the antigen is concentrated in the middle-piece region of the tail, with lesser amounts on the head region. Binding of mAbs to human sperm extract was 75% of the maximum binding to rabbit spermatozoa. Immunoadsorbent chromatography and subsequent sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) identified three sperm antigens of 87,000, 15,000 and 13,000 daltons (kd). The mAbs significantly inhibited human spermatozoa from penetrating zona-free hamster oocytes. It is concluded that human sperm, like rabbit sperm, may have a low molecular weight family of membrane glycoproteins with a higher molecular weight extrinsic protein bound together in a complex on their surfaces.     

Purification and some properties of streptococcal protein G, a novel IgG-binding reagent

Protein G, a bacterial cell wall protein with affinity for immunoglobulin G (IgG), has been isolated from a human group G streptococcal strain (G148). Bacterial surface proteins were solubilized by enzymatic digestion with papain. Protein G was isolated by sequential use of ion-exchange chromatography on DEAE-cellulose, gel filtration on Sephadex G-100, and affinity chromatography on Sepharose 4B-coupled IgG. The presence of protein G in various pools and fractions during the isolation was followed by their ability to inhibit the binding of radio-labeled IgG to G148 bacteria. A highly purified protein G was obtained. On polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis in sodium dodecyl sulfate, the apparent m.w. was 30,000, and on agarose gel electrophoresis the purified protein gave rise to a single band in the alpha 1-region. Protein G was found to bind all human IgG subclasses and also rabbit, mouse, and goat IgG. On the IgG molecule, the Fc part appears mainly responsible for the interaction with protein G, although a low degree interaction was also recorded for Fab fragments. IgM, IgA, and IgD, however, showed no binding to protein G. This novel IgG-binding reagent promises to be of theoretical and practical interest in immunologic research.     

Structural and immunochemical characterization of human urine arylsulfatase A purified by affinity chromatography

Arylsulfatase A (aryl-sulfate sulfohydrolase, EC 3.1.6.1) was isolated from an ammonium sulfate precipitate of urinary proteins using two different affinity chromatography methods. One method involved the use of concanavalin A-Sepharose affinity chromatography at an early stage of purification, followed by preparative polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The other procedure employed arylsulfatase subunit affinity chromatography as the main step and resulted in a remarkably efficient purification. The enzyme had a specific activity of 63 U/mg. The final preparation of arylsulfatase A was homogeneous on the basis of polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis at pH 7.5, and by immunochemical analysis. However, when an enzyme sample obtained by either method of purification was subjected to sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis under reducing or non-reducing conditions, peptide subunits, of 63.5 and 54.5 kDa, were observed. Immunological tests with 125I-labeled enzyme established the presence of a common protein component in both of the electrophoretically separable peptide subunits of human urine arylsulfatase. The amino acid analysis of homogeneous human urine arylsulfatase A showed only a few differences between it and the human liver enzyme. However, immunological cross-reactivity studies using rabbit anti-human urine arylsulfatase revealed immunological difference between the human urine and liver arylsulfatase A enzymes.     

SOB3, a human sperm protein involved in zona pellucida binding: Physiological and biochemical analysis,purification

LB5 antibody was selected from a monoclonal antibody (mAb) library directed against human sperm proteins. LB5 mAb detected the corresponding protein SOB3 in the neck region and the flagellum of most live ejaculated sperm while it labelled, in addition, the acrosome of about 10–20% of spermatozoa. The percentage of LB5 acrosome-stained sperm was significantly correlated with the percentages of either spontaneous or A23187-induced acrosome-reacted sperm. While SOB3 could not be detected in the testis, it appeared in spermatozoa from the corpus epididymis segment. LB5 mAb impaired neither sperm motion parameters, acrosomal reaction triggering, nor sperm binding to zona-free hamster oocytes. By contrast, LB5 Fab fragments (200 μg/ml) inhibited sperm binding to human zonae pellicidae by 35.7%. If sperm were induced to acrosome react with A23187 prior to LB5 treatment, the inhibitory effect shifted to 59.9%, while no significant effect was observed following A23187 incubation alone. Western blotting of human sperm and cauda epididymis extracts revealed two bands of 18 and 19 kDa. While no cross-reaction was observed with other tested organs, a similar 18-kDa band was revealed in erythocytes and one of 19 kDa in B-lymphocytes. No cross-reactivity could be evidenced in any animal sperm analyzed. SOB3 was first separated in a 17- to 20-kDa preparative electrophoresis fraction and finally purified by isoelectrofocusing according to its pI of 9.8. These results suggest that SOB3 is localized under the outer acrosomal membrane, that it participates in secondary sperm binding to the zona pellucida, and that it shares homologies with the immune system. Mol. Reprod. Dev. 49:286–297, 1998. © 1998 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Specific glycoprotein changes during development of the chick neural retina

After separation of whole proteins of chick neural retina by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis in the presence of sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS), a number of glycoproteins can be detected by staining the gels with 125I-labeled wheat germ agglutinin (WGA) and other lectins. The glycoprotein patterns show both quantitative and qualitative changes between days 7 and 13 of development. Some of these glycoproteins can be separated by chromatography on columns of insolubilized lectins. These observations suggest that purification of some of these glycoproteins identified by staining with radioactive lectins would yield retinal antigens which may be specific for developmental stage and cell type.     

Binding of zona pellucida proteins to a boar sperm polypeptide of Mr 53,000 and identification of zona moieties involved

Experiments have been carried out to identify proteins on boar spermatozoa that bind to components of the zona pellucida. Polypeptides in sodium deoxycholate extracts of boar spermatozoa and in whole seminal plasma have been separated by sodium dodecyl sulphate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, transferred onto nitrocellulose sheet by electroblotting and probed with 125I-labelled heat-solubilized zona pellucida from pig oocytes or ovulated eggs. Zona proteins bound avidly and consistently to a polypeptide of Mr 53,000 on blots of capacitated and noncapacitated sperm and weakly to polypeptides of Mr 67,000, 38,000 and 18,000. On blots of seminal plasma the 125I-labelled probes bound to two polypeptides of Mr 65,000 and 19-24,000. Identification of the zona proteins that were binding to the aforementioned proteins on blots showed that all the major zona pellucida glycoproteins were involved, including those acquired from oviduct secretions. Binding of 125I-ovulated zona pellucida to the polypeptide of Mr 53,000 also occurred in extracts of testicular and epididymal boar spermatozoa. The results are discussed in relation to sperm-egg recognition in the pig.     

Heparin- and Zn2+-binding proteins from boar seminal plasma

Low molecular mass, heparin-binding proteins from seminal plasma play an important role in gametes interaction whereas plasmatic Zn2+-binding proteins stabilize chromatin and plasmalemma structures and protect spermatozoa in the female reproductive tract. By means of affinity chromatography the heparin- and Zn2+-binding proteins were isolated from boar seminal plasma and both preparations were analyzed by reverse HPLC. Most of the proteins bound to heparine and Zn2+-ions were classified as spermadhesins. Three fractions binding exclusively Zn2+ were isolated. They differ in amino-acid composition, content of glucosamine and content of protein components revealed by SDS/PAGE.     

Urinary glycoproteins in acute leukemias: a 41 000 dalton glycoprotein follows the kinetic of cytoreduction

Glycoproteins of leukemic cells and 24-hour urinary proteins were subjected to SDS polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis followed by affinity labelling I125 with Concanavalin A, indicating glycoproteins with mannose and/or glucose carbohydrate residues. Among the cellular glycoproteins a 41 000 dalton glycoprotein appeared under induction therapy in close correlation to the reduction of leukemic cells in ALL as well as in AML.     

Characterization of an enzyme from Rhizoctonia praticola which polymerizes phenolic compounds.

An extracellular phenol oxidase from the fungus Rhizoctonia praticola which polymerizes various xenobiotic phenols was isolated and characterized. The enzyme was purified by DEAE-cellulose and Sephadex G-200 chromatography followed by preparative polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Atomic absorption and EPR spectroscopy indicated the presence of copper, and SDS gel electrophoresis revealed a molecular weight of 78,000. With 2,6-dimethoxyphenol as substrate, the enzyme showed a pH optimum of 6.7--6.9, and a temperature optimum of 40 degrees C. According to these and additional characteristics it appears that the enzyme belongs to the class of laccases.     

Isolation,purification and some properties of a lectin from the winged bean (Psophocarpus tetragonolobus)

We have isolated by affinity chromatography a lectin from the seeds of the winged bean (Psophocrapus tetragonolobus) which agglutinated human (group A, B and O), sheep and rabbit, but not mouse erythrocytes. A molecular weight of 41,000 was obtained from gel filtration, and on sodium dodecyl sulphate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis a single polypeptide chain of molecular weight 35,000 was seen both before and after reduction. Isoelectric focussing of the lectin on polyacrylamide gel gave a single band with a calculated isoelectric point of 4.0. The lectin was found to be rich in acidic amino acids; cysteine was not detected. Carbohydrate analysis revealed no covalently bound sugars.Abbreviations PBS phosphate-buffered saline - SDS sodium dodecyl sulphate - PAGE polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis - WBL winged bean lectin - HPLC high performance liquid chromatography     

Structural relationship between alpha 1-microglobulin from man, guinea-pig, rat and rabbit

Rabbit alpha 1-microglobulin was purified from the urine of sodium-chromate-treated animals by the use of gel chromatography on Sephadex G-100, affinity chromatography on concanavalin-A--Sepharose and ion-exchange chromatography on DEAE-Sephadex. Rabbit alpha 1-microglobulin had a molecular mass of 25.6 kDa on SDS/polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Alpha 1-microglobulin has previously been purified from the urine of humans, guinea-pigs and rats by similar methods, and the molecular masses of the four homologues were compared by SDS/polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and gel chromatography in a denaturing medium. By these two methods the human homologue was 6 kDa and 3 kDa larger, respectively, than the other three proteins. Endoglycosidase F digestion of alpha 1-microglobulin, followed by SDS/polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, revealed three protein bands in the human alpha 1-microglobulin sample, and only two bands in guinea-pig, rat and rabbit alpha 1-microglobulin, with a gap between each band of 2.6--2.9 kDa. The amino-terminal amino acid sequences of the four homologues were determined and between 72% and 81% homology was seen. The five amino-terminal amino acids present in the other species were missing in guinea-pig alpha 1-microglobulin. Our results indicate that human alpha 1-microglobulin is substituted with two N-linked oligosaccharides, while only one is attached to each of the other alpha 1-microglobulins, and that the extra glycosylamine-linked oligosaccharide in the human protein is attached to asparagine in position 17. Finally it is shown that all four homologues inhibit antigen stimulation of human lymphocytes, a finding which is consistent with our previous suggestion that the N-linked oligosaccharides carry the immunosuppressive activity of alpha 1-microglobulin.     

Isolation and partial characterization of a alpha 2-beta 1-glycoprotein from horse plasma

A alpha 2-beta 1-glycoprotein was isolated from horse plasma by classical methods. The final product appeared homogeneous by agarose gel and pore limit SDS polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, immunoelectrophoresis and crossed immunoelectrophoresis. The protein moved in agarose gel electrophoresis just above the beta 1 region and seemed composed of a single polypeptide chain. A highly heterogenic banding pattern, focused between pH 5.1 and 6.5 was revealed by isoelectric focusing. The molecular weights determined by gel filtration on Sephadex G100 and by a pore limit polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis in presence of SDS were 65,000 and 82,300 dalton, respectively. No serological relation was found between the horse alpha 2-beta 1-glycoprotein and human and bovine plasma proteins.