title: Soluble p-cadherin found in human semen.
abstract: Cadherins constitute a family of calcium-dependent cell-cell adhesion molecules. P (placental)-cadherin is a 118-kd protein expressed by basal cells in epithelial tissues. P-cadherin also has been described as a soluble protein in certain biological fluids, including human serum and breast milk. Here, we report the presence of an 80-kD fragment of P-cadherin in human semen. No significant differences were found in semen samples from fertile and nonfertile patients. Our results add evidence to previous data indicating that soluble fragments of P-cadherin have a widespread distribution in bodily fluids and suggest that soluble P-cadherin might have functions other than basal epithelial cell-cell adhesion.
authors.affiliation: Centro de Microscopía Electrónica, Facultad de Ciencias Médicas, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Argentina.
authors.forename: Ana L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: De Paul
authors.forename: Monica
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bonaterra
authors.forename: Alejandro Peralta
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Soler
authors.forename: Karen A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Knudsen
authors.forename: Felix D
authors.initials: FD
authors.lastname: Roth
authors.forename: Agustin
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Aoki
mesh_terms: D015153:Blotting, Western; D015820:Cadherins / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D005298:Fertility / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012661:Semen / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D015820:Cadherins