Androgen-dependent nuclear proteins in rat ventral prostate are glycoproteins associated with the nuclear matrix

The major rat ventral prostate androgen-dependent nuclear proteins were studied using isolated nuclei, nuclear matrix and nuclear envelope fractions. Nuclear and subnuclear fractions obtained were characterized by electron microscopy and SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. A group of approximately 20 kDa peptides is demonstrated to be present in nuclei, nuclear matrices and nuclear envelopes from normal prostate. Time course experiments indicate that the 20 kDa peptides become drastically reduced after 7 or 10 days following castration and are incompletely restored after 3 daily testosterone injections. Lectin binding studies demonstrate that the 20 kDa peptides bind both to Concanavalin A and Wheat Germ Agglutinin. These peptides represent the major nuclear Concanavalin A binding glycoproteins from normal prostate nuclei and nuclear matrices.