Human seminal phosphatase: Properties and comparison with plant phosphatases

• 1.1. Phosphatase activities were determined in various seminal fluid and plant tissues.
• 2.2. Human semen showed a markedly higher phosphatase activity, and some plants and mushrooms exhibited a considerably higher phosphatase activity.
• 3.3. Phosphatase purified from human seminal fluid showed a pH optimum of 5–6 and was potently inhibited by l-(+)-tartrate.
• 4.4. Tartrate could not inhibit most plant phosphatases, but inhibited the mushroom phosphatase with a one-order lower affinity than that of the seminal enzyme.

     

The role of the blood-testis barrier in the chemical composition of the seminal plasma of the freshwater teleost Clarias gariepinus

• 1.1. The chemical composition of the seminal and blood plasma of the sharptooth catfish C. gariepinus were analysed simultaneously. Concentration differences existed for various components in the seminal and blood plasma.
• 2.2. Differences found could mainly be attributed to the functioning of a blood-testis barrier.
• 3.3. The possible reason for the difference in concentration between specific components in the seminal and blood plasma while others remained unchanged is further discussed.

     

Comparative studies on the activity and polymorphism of enzymes in the semen of farm animals and birds—I. Electrophoretic investigation into the non-specific esterases in bull seminal plasma

• 1.1. Starch gel electrophoresis was carried out on the non-specific esterases in bull seminal plasma.
• 2.2. Differentiation of non-specific esterases was performed by using different substrates and inhibitors.
• 3.3. It is suggested that the non-specific esterases in bull seminal plasma belong to the types A, B, C.

     

Multi-omics Biomarker Pipeline Reveals Elevated Levels of Protein-glutamine Gamma-glutamyltransferase 4 in Seminal Plasma of Prostate Cancer Patients

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Highlights

• •Seventy-six most promising proteins were qualified, and 19 proteins were verified by SRM in 219 seminal plasma samples of patients with prostate cancer and negative biopsies.
• •Prostate-specific, secreted and androgen-regulated protein-glutamine gamma-glutamyltransferase 4 (TGM4) was verified by SRM assay and an in-house immunoassay.
• •TGM4 detected prostate cancer on biopsy in seminal plasma (AUC=0.66), but not in blood serum.

     

The suitability of using cryopreservation of spermatozoa for the conservation of genetic diversity in African catfish (Clarias gariepinus)

• 1.1. The effect of cryopreservation of semen on expected Hardy-Weinberg proportions in the f₁ progeny of selected breeding pairs was evaluated.
• 2.2. Four different African catfish breeding pairs were selected, each pair displaying different heterozygous alleles at the glucose-6-phosphate isomerase-1 or 2 loci.
• 3.3. Equal volumes of ova from each female were artificially inseminated with cryopreserved or fresh semen obtained from males possessing corresponding genotypes.
• 4.4. A comparison of growth rates between f₁ groups of offspring produced from fresh and cryopreserved semen was made.
• 5.5. The G-test for goodness of fit showed no significant differences from expected Hardy-Weinberg proportions for allele frequencies obtained in the f₁ progeny.
• 6.6. The application of cryopreservation for the conservation of genetic diversity is discussed.

     

The effect of homo- and heterologous thromboplastins on plasmas of man,seven mammalian and two avian species: A comparative study

• 1.1. The effect of 4 concentrations of 6 various thromboplastins (TRPL) on plasmas of man, 7 mammalian and 2 avian species was investigated.
• 2.2. Every plasma was clotted in shortest time by the homologous TRPL.
• 3.3. Plasmas of near related animals exhibited no difference when tested with TRPLs of these animals.
• 4.4. Plasmas with high factor VII levels were clotted in a short time.
• 5.5. In rodents the clotting time of plasmas seemed to be partially dependent on the factor VII levels.
• 6.6. A given TRPL did not always clot the homologous plasma in the shortest time.
• 7.7. The possible role of factor VII in homo- and heterologous test system is discussed.

     

Fructose-bisphosphate aldolase from Helix pomatia—II. Chemical and physical properties

• 1.1. Fructose-bisphosphate aldolase from Helix pomatia is a tetramer of 40,000 mol. wt. sub-units like mammalian aldolases.
• 2.2. The snail enzyme differs slightly in amino acid composition from mammalian aldolases and has glycine as its amino terminus rather than proline.
• 3.3. Spectroscopic measurements (u.v., fluorescence, ORD, CD) show small yet definite differences in secondary structure between the snail and mammalian aldolases but indicate thaT no major structural changes have occurred during evolution.

     

Hormonal stimulation and differential growth response of renal epithelial cells cultivated in vitro from individual nephron segments

• 1.1. Nephron segments (rabbit) were dissected and explanted into primary culture.
• 2.2. Outgrowth of epithelial cells and proliferation in monolayer from distal nephron segments was dependent upon cell substratum (plasma or collagen) and upon hormonal supplements of serum-free media.
• 3.3. Distal nephron segments from cortex and outer medulla (thick ascending loop of Henle, collecting tubule) have differential requirements for growth-stimulation.
• 4.4. Proximal epithelial tissue (embryonic Nephron Anlage) depends on serum or embryo extract for differentiation into convoluted segments.
• 5.5. The mammalian nephron can be cultivated in vitro to form segmental epithelial monolayers.

     

Domain structure of the 90-kDa stress protein: Heparin- and antibody-binding domain

• 1.1. To understand the physiological roles of the 90-kDa stress protein (HSP90), we investigated the heparin- and antibody-binding domains of the protein.
• 2.2. For heparin-binding sites, HSP90 was digested completely with trypsin, and the digests were applied to a heparin-Sepharose column and eluted with 1.0 M NaCl, followed by 8.0 M urea.
• 3.3. Each elutant was purified by a reverse-phase C₁₈ column.
• 4.4. Two peptides from the NaCl-eluted fraction and no peptide from the urea-eluted fraction were purified.
• 5.5. The purified peptides were sequenced by an automated peptide sequencer.
• 6.6. One of the heparin-binding sites was present between Leu-362 and Arg-365; another was present between Leu-645 and Lys-648.
• 7.7. These two peptides were basic and considerably hydrophilic.
• 8.8. For antibody-binding sites, HSP90 was mildly digested with trypsin, electrophoresed on SDS-polyacrylamide gels and transferred to PVDF membranes.
• 9.9. The four bound of the trypsin fragments could be sequenced with a peptide sequencer.
• 10.10. There was only one antibody-binding peptide, 38 kDa, starting from Pro-2. The others showed no cross-reactivity with the antibody and started from Leu-283.
• 11.11. Therefore, the epitopes of HSP90 are present between Pro-2 and Leu-282.
• 12.12. The heparin-binding sites are present from the middle region of the HSP90 molecule, and the antigen sites are at the N-terminal domain.

     

Sensory and motor innervation of bird intrafusal muscle fibers

• 1.1. Most bird muscle spindles are supplied by only one primary afferent.
• 2.2. Secondary afferents occur irregularly.
• 3.3. Sensory terminals are covered by a basal lamina and a collagenous sheath.
• 4.4. Two types of motor terminal are recognized which can be referred to specific types of intrafusal fiber.
• 5.5. The sensory and motor innervation of bird intrafusal fibers is less understood than that of mammalian intrafusal fibers.

     

A comparative study of porphyrin synthesis by whole blood and haemolysates from different mammalian species

• 1.1. There is no uniform pattern of porphyrin synthesis by whole blood and haemolysates, between the different mammalian species studied.
• 2.2. Coproporphyrin, is the dominant porphyrin synthesised by intact red cells.
• 3.3. Uroporphyrin synthesis increases significantly in the majority of species when the cells are haemolysed.
• 4.4. In the mouse large amounts of protoporphyrin are synthesised by intact red cells which increases further on haemolysis.
• 5.5. The low porphyrin synthesising capacity of cow and sheep red cells is not due to any rate-limiting activity of the enzyme ALA-dehydratase.
• 6.6. The dog has a pattern of porphyrin synthesis and excretion similar to that found in the rabbit, and the possibility exists, that a similar energy-dependent carrier mechanism for movement of uroporphyrin and coproporphyrin across red cell membranes found in the rabbit may be present in this species.
• 7.7. The findings may be of significance in the interpretation of porphyrin excretion patterns in experimental porphyria.

     

Regulation of the physical and biochemical composition of blood and seminal plasma by the blood-testis barrier in Labeo ruddi and Labeo rosae (Pisces: Cyprinidae)

• 1.1. The physical and biochemical composition of the seminal and blood plasma of two cyprinid fish were studied as well as the quantitative presence of lipids, ATP, glucose and pyruvate in both body fluids during spawning and post spawning stages.
• 2.2. Statistically significant interspecific differences were determined both for the spawning and post spawning stages as well as differences found for a particular species during spawning and post spawning phases.
• 3.3. Based on the results obtained, it is shown that a blood-testis barrier exists in the two species studied.

     

Metabolic and contractile differentiation of rabbit muscles during growth

• 1.1. A study was carried out of post-natal evolution of the oxidative, glycolytic and contractile capacities in various types of rabbit muscle.
• 2.2. At birth, muscles are non-differentiated and present very limited metabolic and contractile activity, metabolism is mainly oxidative in all muscles.
• 3.3. Although muscular discrimination is manifest from the sixth week after birth, the glycolytic metabolism reaches its maximum capacity only after six to eight weeks.
• 4.4. Subsequently, oxidative metabolic capacity steadily decreases until adulthood.

     

Plasma lipid transport in the horse (Equus caballus)

• 1.1. Equine plasma contains lipoproteins corresponding to very low density (VLDL), low density (LDL) and high density lipoproteins (HDL).
• 2.2. HDL accounts for approximately 60% of plasma lipoprotein mass and consists of a single population of particles.
• 3.3. LDL is heterogeneous comprising three discrete subfractions.
• 4.4. Two proteins are found in the region of apolipoprotein (apo) B-100 in VLDL and LDL and a third similar to apo B-48 is in VLDL.
• 5.5. Lecithin:cholesterol acyl transferase is active in plasma and hepatic lipase and lipoprotein lipase are evident in post-heparin plasma.
• 6.6. There is no significant cholesteryl ester transfer protein activity.

     

Blood lipids of the small octopus,Octopus tehuelchus (mollusca,cephalopoda) at different stages of sexual maturation

• 1.1. The lipid and fatty acid composition from the plasma and hemocytes in Octopus tehuelchus at different stages of sexual development, was determined.
• 2.2. The highest content of lipids was found in females engaged in egg development, and the lowest in post-spawning and brooding females. Highest levels occurred during the autumn season in both sexes.
• 3.3. Changes were mainly due to triacylglycerols and diacylglyceryl ethers.
• 4.4. The plasma fatty acid composition did not demonstrate significant changes at different stages of maturation. The arachidonic acid (20:4 ω 6) was present at surprisingly high levels.

     

Plasma lipoprotein profiles and arylesterase activities in two inbred strains of rabbits with high or low response of plasma cholesterol to dietary cholesterol

• 1.1. Cholesterol feeding for 4 weeks of female and male rabbits of two inbred strains increased plasma cholesterol concentrations by about 11 and 48 mmole/I in the hypo- and hyperresponsive strain, respectively.
• 2.2. On the low-cholesterol pre-experimental diet, the hyporesponsive animals had significantly higher plasma HDL (high density protein) cholesterol levels than hyperresponders.
• 3.3. In both strains, cholesterol feeding caused elevations of cholesterol in all lipoprotein classes, the difference between the hypo- and hyperresponsive strains in essence only being observed in the VLDL (very low density lipoprotein) fraction.
• 4.4. Basal plasma total arylesterase activity was significantly higher in the hypo- than in the hyperresponsive rabbits.
• 5.5. Dietary cholesterol caused an increase in plasma esterase activity in both strains.
• 6.6. We suggest that in rabbits a low plasma arylesterase activity and a low concentration of HDL cholesterol are associated with an increased sensitivity to dietary cholesterol.

     

Identification of TEX101-associated Proteins Through Proteomic Measurement of Human Spermatozoa Homozygous for the Missense Variant rs35033974,

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Highlights

• •Missense variant rs35033974 resulted in significantly reduced levels of human TEX101 protein in seminal plasma and spermatozoa.
• •Differential proteomics revealed TEX101-associated testis-specific proteins, including LY6K, which were down-regulated in rs35033974^hh spermatozoa.
• •Deep proteome of human spermatozoa, including some “missing” proteins, was identified.

     

Purification and some properties of isocitrate dehydrogenase of a blowfly Aldrichina grahami

• 1.1. NADH-dependent isocitrate dehydrogenase has been purified 110-fold from the crude extract of the flight muscle mitochondria of Aldrichina grahami.
• 2.2. The purification procedure involved Triton X-100 treatment of isolated mitochondria, column chromatography on DEAE-cellulose, Affi-gel blue, and P-cellulose.
• 3.3. The purified enzyme was homogeneous by criteria of the polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis.
• 4.4. The enzyme of the blowfly contains more acidic amino acids and less hydrophobic amino acids than that of pig heart.
• 5.5. The molecular weight was determined to be 330,000 daltons. The subunit construction differs from ghat of mammalian isocitrate dehydrogenase.

     

Studies on tryptophan pyrrolase of Schistocerca gregaria försk. (Orthoptera)

• 1.The trytophan pyrrolase activity of central fat bodies of S. gregoria hoppera was studied.
• 2.The enzyme system appears to be similar to that of mammalian liver.
• 3.The enzyme was localized only in central fat bodies.
• 4.Extracts of other body parts can mimic an enzyme activity because of a degradation of ommochromes in the enzyme test.

     

Sex-specific androgen binding in spotted hyaena (Crocuta crocuta) plasma

• 1.1. A charcoal adsorption assay demonstrated a large variance in androgen binding ability in female spotted hyaenas.
• 2.2. A positive correlation between plasma androgen binding ability and ovarian steroid concentrations was demonstrated in adult females.
• 3.3. The strong plasma binding affinity for testosterone and dihydrotestosterone (DHT) (nM) together with the lack of cortisol and weaker oestradiol-17β binding suggests that a specific androgen binding substance, possibly a protein, is present in adult females of this species.
• 4.4. The lack of high affinity binding in male spotted hyaenas is unusual and deserves further investigation.
• 5.5. Some androgen binding in all, including males and immature animals suggests that albumin may bind some plasma androgens in this species.