Ethanol extraction of basic proteins from ejaculated human spermatozoa

A method for the extraction of basic proteins from human ejaculated spermatozoa has been developed. It relies on the previously unreported observation that such basic protein is soluble in a solution containing 60% (v/v) ethanol. This unconventional method yields a high percentage of arginine-rich basic protein which is then able to be characterized on the basis of its amino acid composition. This method also allows comparisons to be made between single ejaculates by the banding pattern each displays when subjected to polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis.