Chemical and physical characterization of a proline-rich polypeptide from sheep colostrum

A proline-rich polypeptide isolated from sheep colostrum is described. The molecular weight of the polypeptide determined by gel filtration is 17 200. However, in the presence of guanidinium chloride the molecular weight found is about 6000. The polypeptide contains about 22% of proline, a high proportion of non-polar amino acids, a low percentage of glycine, and no alanine, arginine and cysteine residues. The only N-terminal amino acid found is leucine. C.d. spectra in water and in 50% (v/v) trifluoroethanol suggest the presence of block sequences of proline residues forming helices of polyproline II type. The proline-rich polypeptide is soluble at 4 degrees C but is reversibly precipitated on warming to room temperature. Maximal precipitation is observed at pH 4.6 and at ionic strength above 0.6. The precipitation depends on the concentration of the polypeptide. No effect of other proteins, Ca2+ and Zn2+ ions on the precipitation of the polypeptide was found. The proline-rich polypeptide is not an amphipathic protein. The lack of effect of the polypeptide on proteolytic enzymes ruled out the possibility that it is an inhibitor of proteinases.