title: Pregnancy associated glycoproteins in ruminants: inactive members of the aspartic proteinase family.
abstract: The Pregnancy Associated Glycoproteins (PAGs) presented in this paper are largely expressed in the ruminant placenta. These proteins are classified as probably inactive members of the aspartic proteinase family. Pepsinogen, renin, cathepsin E & D and chymosine are typical members of this family, characterised by the presence of aspartic acids boarding the recognition sites. Secreted in the peripheral blood of the pregnant female from early pregnancy, these proteins can be used in serological tests for establishing different diagnoses. In the veterinary practice, these diagnoses are useful for both pregnancy confirmation and follow-up of trophoblastic function. The first aspect can help breeders in the management of reproduction, while the second one more specifically concerns clinicians and researchers wishing to establish a differential diagnosis of pathologic conditions affecting pregnancy.
authors.affiliation: University of Liege, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Physiology of Reproduction, Sart-Tilman, Belgium.
authors.forename: J F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Beckers
authors.forename: P V
authors.initials: PV
authors.lastname: Drion
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Garbayo
authors.forename: Z
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Perényi
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Zarrouk
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sulon
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Remy
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Szenci
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D016282:Aspartic Acid Endopeptidases / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D002417:Cattle / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006023:Glycoproteins / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D006041:Goats / Q000502:physiology*; D010920:Placenta / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D011247:Pregnancy; D011257:Pregnancy Proteins / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D011270:Pregnancy, Animal / Q000378:metabolism*; D012756:Sheep / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D006023:Glycoproteins; D011257:Pregnancy Proteins; D016282:Aspartic Acid Endopeptidases