Purification and characterization of alpha-L-fucosidase from Streptomyces species.

Streptomyces sp. 142, isolated from a soil sample, produced alpha-fucosidase when cultured in the presence of L-fucose. The enzyme was purified 700-fold with an overall recovery of 17% from a cell-free extract by cation exchange chromatography and gel filtration chromatography. The apparent molecular weight of the purified enzyme was 40,000 by gel filtration chromatography. The enzyme had a pH optimum of 6.0 and was stable at pH 4.5-7.0. Substrate specificity studies with oligosaccharides labeled with 2-aminopyridine as the substrate showed that the enzyme specifically hydrolyzed terminal alpha 1-3 and alpha 1-4 fucosidic linkages in the oligosaccharides but did not hydrolyze alpha 1-2 or alpha 1-6 fucosidic linkages or a synthetic substrate, p-nitro-phenyl alpha-L-fucoside. The purified enzyme released L-fucose from a fucosylated glycoprotein, alpha 1-acid glycoprotein. Thus, the substrate specificities of the Streptomyces alpha-fucosidase resembled those of alpha-fucosidases I and III isolated from almond emulsin rather than those of other microbial alpha-fucosidases.     

Purification and characterization of nuclear basic proteins of human sperm

High purified nuclei were obtained from human sperm without protein loss through the use of CHAPS (3-[(3-cholamidopropyl)dimethylammonio]-1-propanesulfonate), a newly available detergent. The basic protein complement of these nuclei is highly heterogeneous and comprises histones (some of which are testis-specific), protamines and proteins of intermediate basicity and molecular size. The protamines belong to two different classes of protein. Microheterogeneity observed in some of these protamines originates from slight variations in their amino acid composition as well as from post-synthetic modifications. Two of these protamines previously considered as two different proteins as in fact the same protein with different degrees of phophorylation. All these protamines and intermediate basic proteins are characterized by high amounts of arginine and cysteine. Three of the protamines and all five intermediate basic proteins are also histidine-rich.     

Purification and characterization of human seminal plasma aminopeptidase

A 50.4-fold purification of aminopeptidase is achieved by alcohol precipitation, DEAE-cellulose, CM-cellulose and finally Sephadex G-200 chromatography. On polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of the purified enzyme after molecular sieving on Sephadex G-200, only one band was obtained, suggesting that the enzyme preparation was obtained almost homogeneous by three steps of column chromatography. Aminopeptidase showed highest activity at pH 7.0, using a buffer system, of 70 mM Na-phosphate. The enzyme was found to be active at 40 degrees C, even at 60 degrees C (80% activity), suggesting that the human seminal plasma enzyme is fairly thermostable. Amongst the various aminoacyl derivatives evaluated as substrates in the present study, L-alanine beta-naphthylamide hydrochloride was found to have the highest rate of hydrolysis. Ovalbumin showed effective cleavage in comparison to that of other natural substrates. The Km value for the purified seminal plasma aminopeptidase towards L-alanine beta-naphthylamide hydrochloride was 4 x 10(-4) M. Hg+2 showed highest inhibitory effect than other metal ions tested in the present study. Concentration causing 50% inhibition of the enzyme (I50) by Hg2+ was 4.7 x 10(-6) M. Inhibition by EDTA at 1 mM concentration in the incubation system was higher than by EGTA and sodium azide, suggesting that the enzyme contains a metallo group at the active site. A 50% inhibition of the enzyme by EDTA was obtained at 5.11 x 10(-3) M. The Ackerman and Potter plot for EDTA inhibition suggests that EDTA is a reversible inhibitor of seminal plasma aminopeptidase. A single molecular form of aminopeptidase was found to be present in human seminal plasma as shown by polyacrylamide activity gel electrophoresis.     

Purification and characterization of human plasma Zn-alpha 2-glycoprotein

Zn-alpha 2-glycoprotein (Zn alpha 2gp) was purified from fresh human plasma approximately 670-fold in a yield of 18% over the fractions from DEAE-Sephadex A-50 column chromatography. The purified protein was a glycoprotein with molecular weights of 56,000 and 57,000 on Superose and Sephadex G-150 column chromatographies and of 41,000 and 42,000 on nonreduced SDS-PAGE. Characterization, which included a determination of molecular weight, amino acid composition, amino terminus, and antigenicity, correlated well with known values previously reported for human Zn alpha 2gp.     

Crypticity and functional distribution of the membrane associated alpha-L-fucosidase of human sperm

Two distinctive isoforms of the enzyme alpha-L-fucosidase are found within human semen in substantial amounts, suggesting specialized functions during reproduction. The membrane-associated isozyme of human sperm cells was previously characterized biochemically, and here we report on its subcellular localization. Intact, detergent permeabilized, capacitated, and acrosome-reacted sperm were investigated using antifucosidase immunofluorescence, binding of the fluorescent fucosylated glycoconjugate RITC-BSA-fucose (RBF), and enzyme activity in the presence and absence of selected inhibitors. Both immunolocalization and RBF binding show that fucosidase is broadly distributed over the membrane systems of human sperm, but is relatively enriched within the equatorial segment. Upon detergent treatment or induction of acrosome reaction (AR), a portion of enzyme activity is recoverable in the supernatant, presumably associated with released remnants of the outer acrosomal membrane. Surprisingly, cell-bound enzyme activity increases sharply following permeabilization of intact sperm, representing cryptic fucosidase that is relatively stable and corresponds with strong fluorescence in the equatorial segment and other sperm membranes. These observations support the notion that the fucosidase has a role in the intimate species signature interactions between sperm and oocyte.     

Purification and characterization of human seminal plasma acid phosphatase

A 81-fold purification of human seminal plasma acid phosphatase was obtained by a three-step procedure, involving ammonium sulfate precipitation, DEAE-cellulose chromatography and Sephadex G-200 gel filtration. Homogeneity of the preparation during purification steps was tested by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and only one major band was obtained after the final step. The pH optimum for the activity of the purified enzyme was 5.6 and thermal stability was obtained even up to 40 degrees C. PNPP was the most specific synthetic substrate. The Km of purified seminal acid phosphatase towards PNPP was 1.5 X 10(-3) M. Among the metal ions tested, Hg+2 showed an I50 value of 4.2 X 10(-7) M. Studies with PCMB, PMSF and EDTA did not show any inhibition, whereas NaF and L(+)tartrate, at 1 mM concentration, inhibited the enzyme by 95% and 85%, respectively.     

Purification and characterization of aminopeptidase N from human plasma

Human plasma aminopeptidase N (EC 3.4.11.2) was homogeneously purified from outdated bank plasma. Purification procedures included ammonium sulfate fractionation, immunoaffinity chromatography, DEAE-cellulose column chromatography, hydroxyapatite column chromatography and Sephadex G-200 gel filtration. The final recovery of the enzyme was 18% and its specific activity was 71.6 mumol/min/mg protein. SDS-polyacrylamide gel disc electrophoresis and analytical ultracentrifugation showed the homogeneity of the enzyme. Equilibrium ultracentrifugation showed a molecular weight of 210,800. SDS-polyacrylamide gel disc electrophoresis indicated that the enzyme was a dimer consisting of two identical subunits. The isoelectric point of the enzyme was 3.9 at 4 degrees C. The amino acid composition of the enzyme was very similar to those of aminopeptidase N from human kidney, small intestine, and placenta which we have reported previously. Neutral sugar accounted for 11.6%. The Km, Vmax and Kcat values and hydrolytic coefficient (Kcat/Km) of the enzyme with L-alanyl-beta-naphthylamide as substrate were 8.7 X 10(-5) mol/l, 85.9 mumol/min/mg protein, 303/s and 3,483/mmol/l/s, respectively. The enzyme was activated by cobalt ions and markedly inhibited by amastatin. Plasma aminopeptidase N was immunologically indistinguishable from kidney aminopeptidase N.     

Human liver alpha-L-fucosidase. Purification, characterization, and immunochemical studies.

Human liver alpha-L-fucosidase has been purified 6300-fold to apparent homogeneity with 66% yield by a two-step affinity chromatographic procedure utilizing agarose epsilon-aminocaproyl-fucosamine. Isoelectric focusing revealed that all six isoelectric forms of the enzyme were purified. Polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of the purified alpha-L-fucosidase demonstrated the presence of six bands of protein which all contained fucosidase activity. The purified enzyme preparation was found to contain only trace amounts of seven glycosidases. Quantitative amino acid analysis was performed on the purified fucosidase. Preliminary carbohydrate analysis indicated that only about 1% of the molecule is carbohydrate. Gel filtration on Sepharose 4B indicated an approximate molecular weight for alpha-L-fucosidase of 175,000 +/- 18,000. High speed sedimentation equilibrium yielded a molecular weight of 230,000 +/- 10,000. Sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gels indicated the presence of a single subunit of molecular weight, 50,100 +/- 2,500. The enzyme had a pH optimum of 4.6 with a suggested second optimum of 6.5. Apparent Michaelis constants and maximal velocities were determined on the purified enzyme with respect to the 4-methylumbelliferyl and the p-nitrophenyl substrates and were found to be 0.22 mM and 14.1 mumol/mg of protein/min and 0.43 mM and 19.6 mumol/mg of protein/min, respectively. Several salts had little or no effect on fucosidase activity although Ag+ and Hg2+ completely inactivated the enzyme. Antibodies made against the purified fucosidase were dound to be monospecific against crude human liver supernatant fluids and the pure antigen. No cross-reacting material was detected in the crude liver supernatant fluid from a patient who died with fucosidosis.     

Purification and partial characterization of a sperm motility-inhibitory protein of ram cauda epididymal plasma

Mammalian sperm remain quiescent but fertile for several weeks in cauda epididymis. Although several sperm quiescent factors of epididymal plasma have been identified in goat, pig and cattle; however, little is known in sheep. In the present study, purification and characterization of a novel sperm quiescent protein of ovine cauda epididymal plasma (CEP) was carried out. The sperm quiescent protein was partially purified by hydroxyapatite gel adsorption chromatography followed by DEAE-sepharose® anion exchange chromatography. In the latter, the sperm quiescent activity was eluted both in 0.05 and 0.2 M potassium phosphate buffer (pH 7.5) fractions having a predominant protein of about 80 and 70 kDa with 87% and 63% homogeneity, respectively. The proteins were designated as motility-inhibitory factor of sheep I and II (MIFS-I and II), respectively. Significant (about 60%) inhibition of sperm motility was observed following treatment of cauda epididymal sperm with 6 and 12 µg/mL of partially purified MIFS-I and II, respectively. Specific activities of the partially purified MIFS-I and II were 563 and 261 U/mg of protein, while the fold-purification of the activity were 5119 and 2373, respectively. Both the proteins were heat-labile and the activity was completely lost following incubation at 100°C for 5 min. Further, the partially purified MIFS-I (5 µg/mL) caused significant reduction in in vitro sperm capacitation and slight decline in tyrosine phosphorylated p72 and p52 proteins; however the protein was nontoxic to sperm. Mass spectrometric analysis of MIFS-I revealed significant identity with human semaphorin 3D. Both dot blot and western blot analysis demonstrated cross-reactivity of MIFS-I with polyclonal anti-human SEMA3D antibody. It was concluded that the MIFS-I of ovine CEP was putative ovine semaphorin 3D protein having potent sperm quiescent and decapacitating activities and it possibly acts through inhibition of protein tyrosine phosphorylation.     

Purification and characterization of multiple forms of human plasma prekallikrein

Prekallikrein was purified 1,200-fold in 20% yield from human plasma by DEAE-cellulose, arginyl-triazinyl-aminododecyl-agarose, Cm-Sephadex C-50, and Sephadex G-150 chromatography. Isoelectric focusing of the purified proenzyme gave seven peaks, four major ones at pH 8.6, 8.8, 9.1, and 9.3; and three others at pH 7.9, 8.3, and 9.5. The same IEF profile was obtained from plasma of four individuals of three races and both sexes and from three plasma pools, and was not altered by using diisopropyl fluorophosphate, benzamidine, or EDTA during fractionation. Each major IEF form contained Mr = 88,000 (prekallikrein I) and Mr = 85,000 (prekallikrein II) species, in increasing ratios of I:II from about 20:1 in prekallikrein 8.6 (prekallikrein with pI 8.6) to 1:1 in prekallikrein 9.3. Sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of the four zymogens after activation by Hageman factor fragment and reduction gave an Mr = 53,000 H-chain and two L-chains, LI (Mr = 40,000) and LII (Mr = 37,000). Scanning the gels gave LI:LII ratios of 19:1, 5:1, 2:1, and 1:1 for prekallikreins 8.6, 8.8, 9.1, and 9.3, respectively, corresponding to the prekallikrein I:II ratios. The H-chain in turn was split into Mr = 33,000 and 20,000 chains, presumably by autolysis, because the cleavage was prevented by soybean trypsin inhibitor. Each major kallikrein had a pI 0.1-0.2 lower than its zymogen, but the same LI:LII ratio. The four kallikreins were indistinguishable kinetically with human plasma high-molecular weight kininogen and 15 synthetic substrates, and in correcting the activated partial thromboplastin time of prekallikrein-deficient (Fletcher) plasma.     

Purification and characterization of a sperm motility-dynein ATPase inhibitor from boar seminal plasma.

A sperm motility inhibitor from boar seminal plasma was purified. The purification procedure included dialysis against 0.1 M Tris-HCl containing 0.1 mM DTT and chromatographies on SP-Sephadex C-25 and Phenyl-Sepharose CL-4B. With this procedure, the seminal plasma motility inhibitor (SPMI) preparation was highly purified with a 18% recovery of inhibitory activity. The molecular weight of SPMI in native conditions has been estimated at 50,000 by molecular sieving, but 3 polypeptides with molecular weights of 14,000, 16,000 and 18,000 were observed following polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis in denaturing conditions. SPMI is a thermolabile basic protein that is stable between pH 6 and pH 11. The observations that SPMI effects on motility of demembranated spermatozoa are reversed by Mg.ATP and that SPMI inhibited bull dynein ATPase in a concentration-dependent manner suggest that this protein blocks the motility of demembranated spermatozoa by interfering with dynein arm function.     

Purification and characterization of ribonucleases from human seminal plasma.

Four ribonucleases (RNAases I-IV) have been purified to homogeneity from human seminal plasma by precipitation with 40-75%-satd. (NH4)2SO4, followed by chromatographies on concanavalin A-Sepharose 4B, DEAE-cellulose phosphocellulose, agarose-5'-(4-aminophenylphospho)uridine 2'(3')-phosphate (RNAase affinity column) and Sephadex G-75 or G-100. The homogeneity of these RNAases was confirmed by polyacrylamide-gel electrophoresis. Mr values for these purified RNAases were 78 000, 16 000, 13 300 and 5000 as estimated by gel filtration. Enzyme activities of RNAases I, III and IV were inhibited by Mn2+, Zn2+ and Cu2+ and activated by Na+, K+, Ba2+, Mg2+, Fe2+ and EDTA, whereas that of RNAase II was inhibited by Ba2+, Mg2+, Fe2+, Mn2+, Zn2+ and Cu2+ and activated by Na+, K+ and EDTA. RNAases I, II and IV demonstrated a higher affinity for poly(C) and poly(U) or yeast RNA, whereas RNAase III preferentially hydrolysed poly(U) over poly(C) and yeast RNA. In the presence of 5 mM-spermine, RNAase I was dissociated to a low-Mr (5000) enzyme with an increase in total RNAase enzymic activity. Xenoantiserum to each RNAase was raised and evaluated by immunoprecipitation and immunohistochemical methods. Anti-(seminal RNAase III) antiserum showed no immunological cross-reaction with RNAases of other human origin, whereas anti-(seminal RNAase I), -(RNAase II) and -(RNAase IV) antisera exhibited indistinguishable immunological reactions with serum RNAase and other human RNAases, except that anti-(seminal RNAase I) and -(RNAase antisera IV) did not react with pancreatic RNAases. Seminal RNAases I and IV were identical immunologically as shown by anti-(RNAase I) and anti-(RNAase IV) in immunodiffusion. Immunohistochemical study revealed that, among human tissues examined, only prostate expressed seminal RNAase III. These results suggested that human seminal RNAase I may be an aggregated molecule of RNAase IV and that seminal RNAases II and IV are similar to serum RNAases, whereas seminal RNAase III is a prostate-specific enzyme.     

Solubilization and characterization of pellet-associated human brain alpha-L-fucosidase activity.

The pellet-associated portion of human brain alpha-L-fucosidase (which represents approx. 20% of the homogenate activity) was solubilized with 0.5% (w/v) Triton X-100, characterized with regard to several properties and compared with the corresponding properties of the soluble supernatant-fluid enzyme in an attempt to find a second alpha-L-fucosidase in human brain. The solubilized and soluble alpha-L-fucosidase activities exhibited complete stability after storage at 2-4 degrees C for up to 29 days, comparable thermostability after preincubation at 50 degrees C, comparable apparent Km values (0.07-0.08 mM) for 4-methylumbelliferyl alpha-L-fucopyranoside, comparable hydrophobicity, comparable isoelectric-focusing profiles (six major forms, with pI values between 4.5 and 5.8) and comparable immunoprecipitation curves (with the IgG fraction of antisera prepared against human liver alpha-L-fucosidase). Differences in three properties were found between solubilized and soluble alpha-L-fucosidase activities: the solubilized activity was less stable to storage at -20 degrees C, had a 0.5-pH-unit neutral shift in its pH optimum (6.0) and had smaller Mr forms after gel filtration on Sephadex G-200. The overall results indicate that the pellet-associated and soluble portions of human brain alpha-L-fucosidase are quite similar in most of their properties. Thus there is still no compelling evidence for the existence of a second mammalian alpha-L-fucosidase.     

Purification and characterization of a membrane-associated phosphatidylserine synthase from Bacillus licheniformis

A CDP-diacylglycerol-dependent phosphatidylserine synthase was solubilized from Bacillus licheniformis membranes and purified to near homogeneity. The purification procedure consisted of CDP-diacylglycerol-Sepharose affinity chromatography followed by substrate elution from blue dextran-Sepharose. The purified preparation showed a single band with an apparent relative molecular mass of 53 000 daltons when subjected to sodium dodecyl sulfate--polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Proteolytic digestion of the enzyme yielded a smaller (41 000 daltons) active form. The preparation was free of any phosphatidylglycerophosphate synthase, phosphatidylserine decarboxylase, CDP-diacylglycerol hydrolase, and phosphatidylserine hydrolase activities. The utilization of substrates and the formation of products occurred with the expected stoichiometry. Radioisotopic exchange patterns between related substrate and product pairs suggest a sequential Bi-Bi reaction as opposed to the ping-pong mechanism exhibited by the well-studied phosphatidylserine synthase of Escherichia coli [Larson, T. J., & Dowhan, W. (1976) Biochemistry 15, 5212-5218]. The B. licheniformis enzyme was also found to be markedly dissimilar to the E. coli enzyme with regard to association with detergent micelles, affinity for ribosomes, and antigenicity.     

Purification and partial characterization of a membrane-associated lipoxygenase in tomato fruit

Membrane-associated lipoxygenase from green tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum L. cv Caruso) fruit has been purified 49-fold to a specific activity of 8.3 μmol·min⁻¹·mg⁻¹ of protein by solubilization of microsomal membranes with Triton X-100, followed by anion- exchange and size-exclusion chromatography. The apparent molecular mass of the enzyme was estimated to be 97 and 102 kD by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and size-exclusion chromatography, respectively. The purified membrane lipoxygenase preparation consisted of a single major band following sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, which cross-reacts with immunoserum raised against soluble soybean lipoxygenase 1. It has a pH optimum of 6.5, an apparent K_m of 6.2 μm, and V_max of 103. μmol·min⁻¹·mg⁻¹ of protein with linoleic acid as substrate. Corresponding values for the partially purified soluble lipoxygenase from tomato are 3.8 μm and 1.3 μmol·min⁻¹·mg⁻¹ of protein, respectively. Thus, the membrane-associated enzyme is kinetically distinguishable from its soluble counterpart. Sucrose density gradient fractionation of the isolated membranes indicated that the membrane-associated lipoxygenase sediments with thylakoids. A lipoxygenase band with a corresponding apparent mol wt of 97,000 was identified immunologically in sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis-resolved proteins of purified thylakoids prepared from intact chloroplasts isolated from tomato leaves and fruit.     

Protein C inhibitor. Purification from human plasma and characterization

Protein C inhibitor was isolated from human plasma using conventional chromatographic technique consisting of barium citrate adsorption, polyethylene glycol fractionation, DEAE-Sepharose CL-6B treatment, ammonium sulfate fractionation, dextran sulfate-agarose chromatography, gel filtration on ACA-44, and DEAE-Sephacel chromatography. The purified protein C inhibitor is a single polypeptide chain with an apparent Mr = 57,000 on sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The inhibitor is heterogeneous in pI: six pIs exist between pH 7.4 and 8.6. The inhibitor was shown to be different from the already known plasma protease inhibitors by chemical and immunological analyses. It migrates to the late alpha 1-globulin region on agarose gel electrophoresis. The inhibitor reduced the amidolytic activity of activated protein C noncompetitively by forming a 1:1 molar complex with the enzyme, determined by the use of a fluorogenic substrate toward activated protein C (Boc-Leu-Ser-Thr-Arg-4-methylcoumaryl-7-amide). The inhibition constant (Ki) of the inhibitor against activated protein C was 5.8 x 10(-8) M. The inhibitor also blocked the prolongation of activated partial thromboplastin time by activated protein C. The immunoglobulin which was produced by the inhibitor completely removed the inhibitory activity present in normal human plasma against activated protein C. This suggests that the inhibitor which we have isolated is the only inhibitor in plasma against activated protein C.     

Purification and characterization of alpha-L-fucosidase from Bacillus circulans grown on porcine gastric mucin.

Bacillus circulans isolated from soil was found to produce two types of alpha-L-fucosidase differing in substrate specificity. One was able to liberate L-fucose from porcine gastric mucin (PGM), but not from artificial substrates, including p-nitrophenyl and methyl alpha-L-fucosides, while the other acted not on PGM but on p-nitrophenyl alpha-L-fucoside. The production of the former enzyme was enhanced about 150 times as much by PGM added to the medium as by glucose. The alpha-L-fucosidase acting on PGM was purified from the culture fluid obtained with PGM medium by ammonium sulfate fractionation and subsequent column chromatography. The purified enzyme was found to be homogeneous by PAGE and its molecular weight was estimated to be approximately 285,000. The optimum pH was found to be 5.5 to 6.5 and the stable pH range was 4.5 to 9.0. The enzyme decomposed various blood group O(H) active substances such as PGM, human milk and human saliva, and moreover acted on A-, B-, and O-erythrocytes. The enzyme was shown to cleave alpha-(1----2)-, (1----3)-, and (1----4)-L-fucosidic linkages in various glycoproteins and oligosaccharides, but failed to hydrolyze alpha-(1----6)-L-fucosic linkages in 6-O-alpha-L-fucopyranosyl-N-acetylglucosamine and intact bovine thyroglobulin.     

Purification and characterization of human plasma lecithin:cholesterol acyltransferase.

A highly purified (approximately 12 000-fold) homogeneous preparation of human plasma lecithin:cholesterol acyltransferase (LCAT) with 16% yield was obtained by a combination of density ultracentrifugation, high density lipoprotein affinity column chromatography, hydroxylapatite chromatography, and finally chromatography on anti-apolipoprotein D immunoglobulin-Sepharose columns to remove apolipoprotein D. This enzyme preparation was homogeneous by the following criteria: a single band by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis in 8 M urea; a single band on sodium dodecyl sulfate gel electrophoresis with an apparent molecular weight of 68 000 +/- 1600; a single protein peak with a molecular weight of 70 000 on a calibrated Sephadex G-100 column. Its amino acid composition was different from human serum albumin and all other apoproteins isolated from lipoprotein fractions.     

Purification and characterization of a human plasma cholesteryl ester transfer protein

The cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP) binds to plasma lipoproteins and promotes transfer of cholesteryl esters between the lipoproteins. CETP has been purified 55,000-fold, with a 27% recovery of activity, from the d greater than 1.21 g/ml fraction of human plasma. In the final purification step, partially purified CETP is incubated with a synthetic lipid emulsion consisting of phosphatidylcholine, triglyceride, and fatty acid, and the bound activity, which elutes in the void volume, is separated from nonbound proteins by gel filtration on Sepharose 4B. Sodium dodecyl sulfate-gel analysis of fractions containing bound activity shows the presence of a single protein with an apparent Mr of 74,000. Inclusion of fatty acid in this emulsion was required to prevent the binding of a contaminant protein. However, incubation of CEPT with fatty acid emulsions containing lipid peroxides resulted in substantial inactivation and covalent degradation of the 74-kDa protein. This could be prevented by the inclusion of antioxidants during preparation of the emulsion. Solvent extraction of emulsion-bound CEPT gave a delipidated, active preparation. Purified IgG from a rabbit immunized with the 74-kDa protein completely removed activity from partially purified fractions. Amino acid analysis of the purified protein showed it to contain an unusually high content (45%) of nonpolar residues; the calculated hydrophobicity was greater than that of any other plasma apolipoprotein. These results show human CETP to be a unique plasma apolipoprotein with an apparent Mr of 74,000 which is hydrophobic, self-associating, and susceptible to covalent degradation by lipid peroxides.