title: Human oviductal fluid proteins. V. Identification of human oviductin-I as alpha-fetoprotein.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate whether human oviductin-I (hOV-I) from human oviductal fluid (hOF) and human alpha-fetoprotein (hAFP) are identical molecules.
  
  
  METHODS
  Comparison of amino acid and carbohydrate composition of hOV-I with that of hAFP. Isolation of hAFP from oviductal fluid of a patient and evaluation of its immunochemical properties in relation to hOV-I and authentic hAFP standard.
  
  
  METHODS
  Procedures were performed in an academic research environment.
  
  
  METHODS
  Human oviductin-I was isolated from a pooled sample of hOF obtained from four patients in a third world country. AFP was purified from a sample of oviductal fluid obtained from a single patient during her periovulatory period.
  
  
  METHODS
  Human oviductal fluid was collected coincident to elective tubal ligations.
  
  
  METHODS
  The amino acid and carbohydrate composition of hOV-I was determined. AFP was purified from hOF using ion-exchange chromatography and gel filtration. The identity between hOV-I and hAFP from hOF was assessed using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and Western immunoblot analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The amino acid and carbohydrate composition of hOV-I indicated similarities between hOV-I and hAFP. Both hOV-I and hAFP reacted with mouse anti-hAFP monoclonal antibody and purified polyclonal rabbit anti-hOV-I immunoglobulin G in an identical manner as observed by noncompetitive ELISA. Purified AFP from hOF of a single patient had a molecular mass of 66 kd and was found to be identical with hOV-I by Western immunoblot analysis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Human oviductin-I and hAFP are chemically similar and immunologically identical molecules. We believe that this finding is the first documentation for the existence of AFP in hOF.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemical Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, State University of New York, Buffalo.
authors.forename: P V
authors.initials: PV
authors.lastname: Wagh
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lippes
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015153:Blotting, Western; D001826:Body Fluids / Q000378:metabolism*; D004591:Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005187:Fallopian Tubes / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006023:Glycoproteins / Q000737:chemistry*; D006801:Humans; D011506:Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D011863:Radioimmunoassay; D012709:Serum Albumin / Q000737:chemistry; D000509:alpha-Fetoproteins / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000302:isolation & purification
chemical_list: D006023:Glycoproteins; D011506:Proteins; D012709:Serum Albumin; D000509:alpha-Fetoproteins