title: The PDC-109 protein from bovine seminal plasma is similar to the gelatin-binding domain of bovine fibronectin and a kringle domain of human tissue-type plasminogen activator.
abstract: PDC-109, a protein of unknown function, is a major component of bovine seminal plasma. Using a computer program designed to detect evolutionary relationships between proteins, I find that the PDC-109 protein is similar to the gelatin-binding domain of bovine fibronectin and part of a kringle domain of human tissue-type plasminogen activator (t-PA). The computer-based comparison of the amino acid sequence of PDC-109 with that of the gelatin-binding domain of fibronectin and part of the second kringle domain of t-PA yields scores that are 15.5 standard deviations and 7.8 standard deviations higher, respectively, than were obtained with a comparison of randomized sequences of these proteins. The probability (p) of getting these scores by chance is less than 10(-50) and 3 X 10(-15), respectively. The similarity between the amino acid sequences of PDC-109 and the gelatin-binding domain in fibronectin and the kringle of t-PA suggests some approaches for identifying the functions of PDC-109. Both t-PA and the gelatin-binding domain of fibronectin have adhesive functions, and the gelatin-binding domain promotes viral transformation of fibroblasts in culture. These functions may be associated with the PDC-109 protein.
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D001665:Binding Sites; D002417:Cattle; D005353:Fibronectins / Q000378:metabolism*; D005780:Gelatin / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D010960:Plasminogen Activators / Q000378:metabolism*; D029584:Prostatic Secretory Proteins; D011485:Protein Binding; D011487:Protein Conformation; D011506:Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D012661:Semen / Q000378:metabolism*; D029589:Seminal Plasma Proteins; D013735:Testicular Hormones / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D005353:Fibronectins; D029584:Prostatic Secretory Proteins; D011506:Proteins; D029589:Seminal Plasma Proteins; D013735:Testicular Hormones; C043076:beta-microseminoprotein; D005780:Gelatin; D010960:Plasminogen Activators