Characterisation of non-maternal serum proteins in amniotic fluid at weeks 16 to 18 of gestation.
Proteins found in amniotic fluid are mainly serum proteins, probably of maternal origin. About 5% of the total protein concentration has the potential of being fetal or decidual in origin. Only a few of these proteins have been isolated and characterised. In order to describe the foetal and decidual components in amniotic fluid more extensively, a polyspecific antiserum to amniotic fluid at weeks 16-18 of gestation was raised. Specificities in the antiserum to serum proteins were removed by adsorption. Several proteins of non-serum protein origin reacted with the antiserum. Three of these proteins were chosen for isolation and further characterisation. With the use of immunological methods, SDS-PAGE and N-terminal sequencing we identified two of the proteins as C-terminal propeptides of procollagen Type I and Type III, which have not hitherto been described in amniotic fluid. The third protein, called here protein-4, showed up as homologous to fetal antigen-1 (FA-1) and human dlk, containing EGF-like domains and associated with growth in neuroendocrine tissues and tumours.
Department of Clinical Biochemistry, H:S Hvidovre Hospital, University of Copenhagen, Denmark.
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Drøhse
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H
Christensen
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Myrhøj
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S
Sørensen
D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000653:Amniotic Fluid / Q000737:chemistry*; D001797:Blood Protein Electrophoresis; D001798:Blood Proteins / Q000032:analysis*; D002272:Carcinoembryonic Antigen / Q000032:analysis; D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin / Q000032:analysis; D002852:Chromatography, Ion Exchange; D004591:Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel; D005260:Female; D005865:Gestational Age; D000071816:Glycodelin; D006023:Glycoproteins / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D007123:Immunoelectrophoresis, Two-Dimensional; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010928:Placental Lactogen / Q000032:analysis; D011247:Pregnancy; D011257:Pregnancy Proteins / Q000032:analysis; D011347:Procollagen / Q000032:analysis; D011388:Prolactin / Q000032:analysis; D013056:Spectrophotometry, Ultraviolet; D000509:alpha-Fetoproteins / Q000032:analysis
D001798:Blood Proteins; D002272:Carcinoembryonic Antigen; D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin; D000071816:Glycodelin; D006023:Glycoproteins; C045246:PAEP protein, human; D011257:Pregnancy Proteins; D011347:Procollagen; D000509:alpha-Fetoproteins; D011388:Prolactin; D010928:Placental Lactogen