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Amino acid sequence of beta-microseminoprotein from porcine seminal plasma
P Fernlund1, L B Granberg, P Roepstorff
1Department of Clinical Chemistry, University of Lund, Malmö General Hospital, Sweden.
Abstract:
beta-Microseminoprotein is a small mucus-associated protein of unknown function, previously characterized in man and the ape. The corresponding porcine protein was identified in tracheal mucus and seminal plasma by its cross-reaction with antibodies raised against the human protein. The porcine protein was isolated from seminal plasma, and its complete amino acid sequence determined. It is a single-chain protein of 91 amino acids with a molecular mass of 10,068 Da. Compared to primate beta-microseminoprotein, the porcine protein has a blocked N-terminus and a deletion of three amino acids in the N-terminal region, but otherwise manifests similarity in amino acid sequence including conservation of 10 cysteine residues. A proportion of individual pigs have two forms of the protein, differing in charge but not in size. The characterization of beta-microseminoprotein in a species suited for experiments should help determine the function of this protein.
Insights
Researchers identified and sequenced porcine beta-microseminoprotein, a mucus-associated protein. Characterizing this protein in pigs may help elucidate its unknown biological function.
Area of Science:
- Biochemistry
- Proteomics
- Comparative genomics
Background:
- Beta-microseminoprotein (beta-MSP) is a small protein found in mucus secretions.
- Its exact biological function remains largely unknown in humans and apes.
- Understanding beta-MSP is crucial for various physiological processes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify and characterize the porcine beta-microseminoprotein.
- To determine the amino acid sequence and structural features of the porcine protein.
- To compare porcine beta-MSP with its primate counterparts.
Main Methods:
- Antibody cross-reactivity assays to identify the porcine protein.
- Protein isolation from seminal plasma.
- Complete amino acid sequencing using established biochemical techniques.
Main Results:
- Porcine beta-microseminoprotein was identified in tracheal mucus and seminal plasma.
- The complete amino acid sequence revealed a single-chain protein of 91 amino acids (10,068 Da).
- The porcine protein exhibits N-terminal modifications and sequence similarities, including conserved cysteine residues, compared to primate beta-MSP.
Conclusions:
- The characterization of porcine beta-microseminoprotein provides a valuable model for functional studies.
- Investigating this protein in a species suitable for experimentation can help determine its biological role.
- Further research on porcine beta-MSP may uncover its involvement in mucus-associated functions or other physiological pathways.