The NGF complex from the African rat Mastomys natalensis

The 7S NGF complex from the male mouse submaxillary gland consists of the alpha, gamma, and beta subunits in the ratio alpha 2 gamma 2 beta. The beta (NGF) subunit contains all the known biolocial activity of 7S NGF. The alpha and gamma subunits are both members of glandular kallikrein gene family, yet only gamma subunit has protease activity. The gamma subunit plays a role in the processing of preproNGF to its mature form, while the role of the alpha subunit is not yet understood. Despite the fact that 7S NGF has been extensively characterized, no other NGF complex has been characterized, nor have the alpha or gamma subunits been observed in tissues which express NGF. We have therefore purified and characterized the NGF complex from the submaxillary glands of the rat Mastomys natalensis in order to more fully understand the roles of the alpha and gamma subunits. The NGF complex from M. natalensis contains subunits similar to those found in mouse 7S NGF. Although similar, there are significant differences between mouse and M. natalensis NGF complexes, especially in the degree of post-translational modification of the gamma and NGF subunits, the expression of esterase activity and the ease with which the complexes dissociate. Evidence is presented that suggests that the NGF complex from M. natalensis may consist of subunits in the ratio alpha 2 gamma beta. The amino acid sequence of the M. natalensis NGF suggests some, but not all, ways in which these differences arise.