Purification and characterization of calmodulin from sea urchin spermatozoa

Calmodulin was purified to apparent homogeneity from sea urchin spermatozoa by heat-treatment at 85 degrees C, ammonium sulphate precipitation at pH 4.2, DEAE-Sephacel chromatography and gel filtration on Sephadex G-100. Approximately 8.3 micrograms calmodulin were recovered per 10(10) sperm cells. The sperm calmodulin had an apparent molecular weight of 17 800. The purified calmodulin activated calmodulin-deficient phosphodiesterase from pig coronary arteries, with half-maximal activation occurring at approximately 40 ng calmodulin/ml. Trifluoperazine also inhibited the sperm calmodulin activity. These results demonstrate that calmodulin is present in high amounts in sea urchin spermatozoa, and that it is essentially the same as the calmodulin isolated from various other tissues.

Fertilization in brown algae. III. Preliminary characterization of putative gamete receptors from eggs and sperm of Fucus serratus

Membrane fractions have been isolated from eggs of Fucus serrratus which inhibit fertilization in a species-specific manner. This activity is destroyed by alpha-fucosidase and alpha-mannosidase. Some 6% of the protein of this membrane fraction binds to Con A-agarose, following SDS solubilization, and when eluted with alpha-methyl mannoside inhibits fertilization when preincubated with sperm, but not eggs. This inhibitory activity is species-specific and destroyed by alpha-fucosidase but not by trypsin. SDS-gel electrophoresis reveals 1 band staining strongly with Coomassie Brilliant Blue G and weakly with the PAS reagent. This major band represents a glycoprotein with an approximate molecular weight of 30 000 Daltons. Membrane fractions from sperm of Fucus serratus solubilized in KC1 yielded a protein-containing fraction, after affinity chromatography on desulphated focoidan-Sepharose. This fraction is 100-fold more effective in inhibiting fertilization after preincubation with eggs than either Con A or fucose-binding protein. It is species-specific and inhibition is reversed when pretreated eggs are washed with fucoidan. Activity is destroyed by heat and trypsin and only one diffuse band is apparent on SDS gels. This stains positively with Coomassie Brilliant Blue G but not with PAS and has a molecular weight of approximately 60 000 Daltons. Tentative calculation of the numbers of putative receptor molecules gives a figure of 2.5 X 10(9) receptors per egg and 1.8 X 10(6) receptors per sperm.

Adenosinetriphosphate (ATP) in human spermatozoa. II. Concentrations in fertile men

The Bucher's method was applied to establish normal values of ATP in the spermatozoa of fertile men. It was shown that the normal value is 6.5 +/- 0.34 S.E. microgram per 10(8) spermatozoa. Pools of spermatozoa showed that incubation in seminal plasma at room temperature produced a progressive loss of ATP in the gametes.

The histone H2B from the sperm cell of the starfish Marthasterias glacialis

A single species of histone H2B with a blocked N-terminus has been isolated from sperm of the starfish Marthasterias glacialis. The amino-terminal region of the histone H2BMarthasterias shows no similarity to the multiple forms of histones H2B found in the sperm of sea urchins, but there are distinct homologies to the histone of Patella granatina and that of the embryo of Parechinus angulosus. The sequence of the 90 carboxy terminal amino acids is highly conserved as in the other histones H2B.

Effect of a nonsteroidal gametic factor on senile cataract in the dog

We have studied the clarifying activity of a purified peptide fraction of gametic origin in senile cataract of the dog. The active substance, administered intramuscularly, had significant and durable clarifying effects on the cortical area of the lens.

Importance of spermatozoal zinc as temporary inhibitor of sperm nuclear chromatin decondensation ability in man

Nuclear chromatin decondensation (NCD) of ejaculated human spermatozoa was studied in vitro. Spermatozoa subjected to membrane disintegration induced by the detergent sodium dodecyl sulphate (SDS) were found to undergo NCD if previously or afterwards treated with substances known to deplete the spermatozoa of zinc (albumin and EDTA). Zn2+, but not other, "prostatic" cations (Ca2+, Mg2+), inhibited the experimentally induced NCD and the NCD of spermatozoa from men with impaired prostatic function. It is suggested that the human spermatozoon has an intrinsic mechanism for NCD, that is preserved by temporary zinc inhibition and might be reactivated by zinc removal within the female genital tract.

Distribution of acrosin inhibitors in bull reproductive tissues and spermatozoa

Antisera against two low molecular weight acrosin inhibitors, isolated from bull seminal plasma (BUSI I and BUSI II), were prepared by immunizing rabbits and hamsters. Antisera to BUSI I and BUSI II cross-reacted immunologically with low intensity. Using immunological techniques BUSI I and BUSI II could be demonstrated in the tissues and fluids of bull seminal vesicles and ampullae and on the acrosomes of ejaculated and ampullar spermatozoa. BUSI II was also detected in the epididymal fluid and on the acrosomes of epididymal spermatozoa. Antisera to both inhibitors cross-reacted with boar seminal vesicle fluid and ram seminal plasma. There was no cross-reaction with the components of blood serum.

[Mechanism of the photochemical reaction between 8-methoxypsoralen and DNA: formation of fluorescent cycloadducts]

Irradiation of double-stranded DNA solutions containing 8-methoxypsoralene /8-MOP/ by near ultraviolet light /365 nm/ resulted in the formation of fluorescent photoaddiucts 8-MOP-DNA. The fluorescence of these products in the DNA molecule is considerably quenched due to the intercalation between the bases. After hydrolysis of DNA the quenching was eliminated. The maximal fluorescence of the photoadducts was observed near 460 nm; the maximal excitation was near 328 nm.

The primary structure of histone H1 from sperm of the sea urchin Parechinus angulosus. 1. Chemical and enzymatic fragmentation of the protein and the sequence of amino acids in the four N-terminal cyanogen bromide peptides

The primary structure of the amino-terminal 84 residues of sperm histone H1Parechinus has been determined. The sequence is: Pro-Gly-Ser-Pro-Gln-Lys-Arg-Ala-Ala-Ser-Pro-Arg-Lys-Ser-Pro-Arg-Lys-Ser-Pro-Lys-Lys-Ser-Pro-Arg-Lys-Ala-Ser-Ala-Ser-Pro-Arg-Arg-Lys-Ala-Lys-Arg-Ala-Arg-Ala-Ser-Thr-His-Pro-Pro-Val-Leu-Glu-Met-Val-Gln-Ala-Ala-Ile-Thr-Ala-Met-Lys-Glu-Arg-Lys-Gly-Ser-Ser-Ala-Ala-Lys-Ile-Lys-Ser-Tyr-Met-Ala-Ala-Asn-Tyr-Arg-Val-Asp-Met-Asn-Val-Leu-Ala-Pro-.

Radioiodination of surface proteins of bull spermatozoa and their characterization by sodium dodecyl sulphate--polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis

Surface proteins of ejaculated bull spermatozoa were radioiodinated, solubilized and characterized by sodium dodecyl sulphate--polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The electron microscopic autoradiographs showed that the labelling was equally distributed to all parts of the spermatozoon and restricted to the sperm surface. The electrophoresis of solubilized radioactivity revealed 6 radioactive fractions with approximate molecular weights of 67000-69000, 47000-50000, 34000-37000, 25000-28000, and 14000-16000. The 6th fraction probably represented labelled lipids. The electrophoresis of radioiodinated seminal plasma proteins revealed only 2 radioactive protein peaks which coincided with the sperm surface protein fractions IV and V.

[Study of fractionated rat liver and sea urchin chromatin]

Two chromatin fractions were isolated from rat liver nuclei and from sperm of the sea urchin, Strongylocentrotus intermedius, by chromatin treatment with DNAase II with subsequent fractionation of the resultant fragments via their precipitation with MgCl2 solution. The analysis of distribution between these fractions of rapidly in vivo labeling RNA associated with chromatin and the in vitro investigation of template activity of isolated chromatin fractions allowed to conclude that one of the fractions is transcriptionally active and the other is inactive. The active chromatin fraction, similarly to the inactive one, contains all five histones. Unlike the latter, however, the former fraction is enriched in non-histone proteins and impoverished in histone H1. It is shown that the active chromation fraction of rat liver is composed of small fragments heterogenous in size. Rapidly synthesizing RNA in this fraction is mainly associated with mononucleosomal particles. Data on electrophoretic mobility of DNA fragments isolated from the active chromatin fraction from rat liver show that transcriptionally active sites of chromatin retain the nucleosomal structure.

The primary structure of histone H1 from sperm of the sea urchin Parechinus angulosus. 2. Sequence of the C-terminal CNBr peptide and the entire primary structure

The primary structure of sperm histone H1Parechinus has been determined. H1Parechinus consists of a polypeptide chain of the following 248 amino acid residues: Pro-Gly-Ser-Pro-Gln-Lys-Arg-Ala-Ala-Ser-Pro-Arg-Lys-Ser-Pro-Arg-Lys-Ser-Pro-Lys-Lys-Ser-Pro-Arg-Lys-Ala-Ser-Ala-Ser-Pro-Arg-Arg-Lys-Ala-Lys-Arg-Ala-Arg-Ala-Ser-Thr-His-Pro-Pro-Val-Leu-Glu-Met-Val-Gln-Ala-Ala-Ile-Thr-Ala-Met-Lys-Glu-Arg-Lys-Gly-Ser-Ser-Ala-Ala-Lys-Ile-Lys-Ser-Tyr-Met-Ala-Ala-Asn-Tyr-Arg-Val-Asp-Met-Asn-Val-Leu-Ala-Pro-His-Val-Arg-Arg-Ala-Leu-Arg-Asn-Gly-Val-Ala-Ser-Gly-Ala-Leu-Lys-Gln-Val-Thr-Gly-Thr-Gly-Ala-Ser-Gly-Arg-Phe-Arg-Val-Gly-Ala-Val-Ala-Lys-Pro-Lys-Lys-Ala-Lys-Lys-Thr-Ser-Ala-Ala-Ala-Lys-Ala-Lys-Lys-Ala-Lys-Ala-Ala-Ala-Ala-Lys-Lys-Ala-Arg-Arg-leads to Lys-Ala-Lys-Ala-Ala-Ala-Lys-Arg-Lys-Ala-Ala-Leu-Ala-Lys-Lys-Lys-Ala-Ala-Ala-Ala-Lys-Arg-Lys-Ala-Ala-Ala-Lys-Ala-Lys-Lys-Ala-Lys-Lys-Pro-Lys-Lys-Lys-Ala-Ala-Ala-Lys-Lys-Ala-Lys-Lys-Pro-Ala-Lys-Lys-Ser-Pro-Lys-Lys-Ala-Lys-Lys-Pro-Ala-Lys-Lys-Ser-Pro-Lys-Lys-Lys-Lys-Ala-Lys-Arg-Ser-Pro-Lys-Lys-Ala-Lys-Lys-Ala-Ala-Gly-Lys-Arg-Lys-Pro-Ala-Ala-Lys-Lys-Ala-Arg-Arg-Ser-Pro-Arg-Lys-Ala-Gly-Lys-Arg-Arg-Ser-Pro-Lys-Lys-Ala-Arg-Lys. The protein consists of three domains. Compared to other H1 and H5 histones, there is a very similar hydrophobic central domain and the carboxyl-terminal domain is very rich in lysine and alanine. H1Parechinus is similar to H5 histones in that the carboxyl-terminal domain also contains many arginine residues close to the carboxyl terminus. The carboxyl-terminal domain of H1Parechinus appears to have been constructed by a series of variable duplications. The amino-terminal domain of H1Parechinus is longer and quire different to that of other H1 and H5 histones and is characterized by a repeating tetrapeptide of the general type Ser-Pro-(basic)2. The known sequence of a histone H1 gene from Psammechinus miliaris [Schaffner, W. et al. (1978) Cell, 14, 655-671] is compared to the sequence of H1Parechinus. Again the central hydrophobic domains are similar whereas the amino terminal domains are very different. The functions of the various domains of sperm histone H1Parechinus are discussed.

Major proteins secreted by the epididymis of Lacerta vivipara. Isolation and characterization by electrophoresis of the central core

Lizard epididymis produces large secretory granules (6 micrometer) which are discharged and mix with the spermatozoa. They consist of a dense central core and a peripheral vacuole. Central cores were prepared by two means: (1) homogenization of epididymal cells than isolation of a granular fraction by centrifugation on a discontinuous sucrose density gradient as a final step, and (2) collection of epididymal fluid containing both granules and spermatozoa, and separation of these elements by several steps of low speed centrifugations and washings. Purity of the different fractions was checked by microscopy. After complete dissolution in Triton X-100 (2.5%), the fractions containing central cores were submitted to SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (15% acrylamide bisacrylamide). When apparently free from surrounding material, the dissolved central cores analyzed by electrophoresis showed only a main band representing a single protein (or a small group of proteins) of relative low mobility (molecular weight about 70 000). Other more mobile proteins have been identified in less purified fractions. They probably originate from the peripheral vacuole but this point is still under investigation. These two types of proteins do not originate from plasma or testis. Their androgen dependence is discussed.

Diacyl, alkenyl, and alkyl ether phospholipids in ejaculated, in utero-, and in vitro-incubated porcine spermatozoa

The phospholipids of porcine spermatozoa were analyzed by a hydrolytic procedure directly after ejaculation, and after incubation for 120 min in vitro or in ligated uterine segments of females with induced estrus. Total phospholipid content of ejaculated sperm was 65.7 micro g lipid P per 10(9) sperm, of which 41% was alkyl ether and 23% was alkenyl ether glycerophospholipid. All of the ether phospholipids were choline and ethanolamine glycerophospholipids. In order of decreasing amount (% of total phospholipid), the phospholipids were choline and ethanolamine glycerophospholipids (49.9 and 28.2), sphingolipid (10.6), cardiolipin (5.5), phosphatidylinositol (2.3), phosphatidic acid (1.5), phosphatidylserine (1.2), and phosphatidylglycerol (0.8). Phosphorus-containing sphingolipid separated into two components during thin-layer chromatography. Sphingosine was the only long-chain base identified in either band. Major fatty acids in the band with lower R(f) were 16:0 (56%), 20:0 (23%), and 18:0 (11%) plus smaller amounts of 14:0, 18:1, and 22:0, while those in the band with higher R(f) were 14:0 (30%), 16:0 (45%), and 18:1 (12%) plus smaller amounts of 18:0, 20:0, and 22:0. Choline was the only water-soluble base present in the lower R(f) sphingomyelin while ethanolamine was prevalent in the higher R(f) component. Incubation of washed spermatozoa in Ca(2+)-free Ringer-fructose at 37 degrees C for 2 hr produced no significant change in the level of any of the phospholipids. Incubation of washed sperm in the uterus for 2 hr, in the presence of oviductal secretions, produced an increase in phosphatidylcholine from 7.2 to 10.2 micro g lipid P per 10(9) sperm.-Evans, R. W., D. E. Weaver, and E. D. Clegg. Diacyl, alkenyl, and alkyl ether phospholipids in ejaculated, in utero-, and in vitro-incubated porcine spermatozoa.

The structure of sea-urchin-sperm histone phi 1 (H1) in chromatin and in free solution. Trypsin digestion and spectroscopic studies

The lysine-rich H1-type histone phi 1 from the sperm of the sea urchin Arbacia lixula has been subjected to tryptic digestion in free solution at high ionic strength. Tw trypsin-resistant peptides G phi 1 and LG phi 1 have been isolated, comprising 81 and 95 amino acids respectively, i.e. about a third of the intact histone. Circular dichroism and 270-MHz proton NMR have been used to demonstrate that the smaller peptide G phi 1 contains all the secondary and tertiary structure of intact histone phi 1. It is concluded that the resistant peptides represent a compact folded portion of the histone phi 1 chain, whilst the remaining two-thirds is disordered in free solution. Trypsin digestion of Arbacia lixula nuclei, under conditions where histone phi 1 remains tightly bound to the chromatin, leads to the same resistant peptide G phi 1. From this it is concluded that in chromatin the chain region corresponding to G phi 1 is likewise folded and inaccessible to trypsin, whilst the remaining exposed residues are located periferally and probably in an extended conformation. The rather unusual H1-type histone phi 1 from sea urchin sperm thus has a three-domain structure like calf thymus H1 and chicken erythrocyte H5. The present data emphasise the fact that this three-domain structure exists in chromatin and is not merely a free-solution artefact.

[Heterogeneity of histone H1 in cells with blocked genome]

Using polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, the composition of cationic chromosomal proteins of the cells with completely blocked genome (crayfish, triton and frog spermatozoa, bird erythrocytes, rabbit and cow neutrophils) and homologous somatic cells with matrix-active genome was studied. It was shown that the most common feature of the composition of these cationic chromosomal proteins is the presence of several subfractions of histone H1. This is probably due to the necessity of total condensation of chromosomal fibrills.