Chemical characterization of the predominant proteins secreted by mouse seminal vesicles

• Mouse seminal vesicles secrete four major protein components with estimated molecular masses of 95, 38, 17, and 16 kDa. Amino acid sequencing revealed that the 95-kDa component represents a protein with an unknown structure, while the 38-kDa component was identified as semenoclotin, the 17-kDa component as seminal-vesicle-secreted protein IV, and the 16-kDa component as seminal-vesicle-secreted protein V. Semenoclotin and the 95-kDa component were readily cross-linked by transglutaminase, suggesting that the two proteins are involved in the formation of the mouse copulatory plug. Treatment of mouse seminal vesicle fluid with human prostate-specific antigen rapidly degraded semenoclotin, indicating a structural resemblance of this protein to human semenogelins, despite the vast difference in primary structure. As previously reported for other seminal-vesicle-secreted proteins, the semenoclotin transcripts are shown to be under androgen control.

Subject headings

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Medicinska och farmaceutiska grundvetenskaper -- Läkemedelskemi (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Basic Medicine -- Medicinal Chemistry (hsv//eng)

Keyword

RNA

Proteins/*chemistry/genetics/*secretion

Post-Translational

Protein Processing

Molecular Weight

Inbred BALB C

Mice

Male

Humans

Gonadal Steroid Hormones/chemistry/genetics

Cross-Linking Reagents

Amino Acid Sequence

Animals

Messenger/genetics/metabolism

Research Support

Non-U.S. Gov't

*Seminal Vesicle Secretory Proteins

Seminal Vesicles/chemistry/drug effects/*secretion

Testosterone/pharmacology

Transglutaminases

Publication and Content Type

art (subject category)

ref (subject category)