Related Experiment Videos
Human chorionic gonadotropin--like material: presence in normal human tissues
American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology
|August 1, 1979
Summary
Human tissues contain human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG)-like material, suggesting normal cells can produce hCG. This ubiquitous protein likely lacks the glycosylation found in placental hCG, rendering it biologically inactive.
Area of Science:
- Biochemistry
- Endocrinology
- Molecular Biology
Background:
- Human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) is primarily known as a placental hormone.
- The synthesis and function of hCG in normal human tissues are not fully understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the presence and characteristics of hCG-like material in normal human tissues.
- To compare the properties of hCG-like material from normal tissues with placental hCG.
Main Methods:
- Radioreceptor assay for gonadotropin.
- Beta-chain radioimmunoassay for human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG).
- Affinity chromatography using hCG-antibody and concanavalin A (con A)-Sepharose columns.
Main Results:
- hCG-like material was detected in all normal human tissues tested.
- This material did not bind to con A-Sepharose, indicating altered carbohydrate content compared to placental hCG.
- Placental hCG binds extensively to con A unless its carbohydrate moieties are removed.
Conclusions:
- Normal tissues synthesize hCG-like material with the protein structure of hCG but lacking placental glycosylation.
- This suggests hCG-like material in normal tissues has minimal to no in vivo bioactivity.
- The trophoblastic cell may not be unique in hCG synthesis but excels in its glycosylation, converting a ubiquitous protein into a hormone.