Molecular cloning and assessment of the immunocontraceptive potential of the zona pellucida subunit 3 from Brandt's vole (Microtus brandti).
A full-length cDNA encoding Brandt's vole (Microtus brandti) zona pellucida glycoprotein subunit 3 (vZP3) was isolated using rapid amplification of cDNA ends-polymerase chain reaction (RACE-PCR). The cDNA contains an open reading frame of 1254 nucleotides encoding a polypeptide of 418 amino acid residues. The deduced amino acid sequence of vZP3 revealed high overall homology with hamster (82.1%), mouse (81.3%) and rat (80.6%). A synthetic vZP3 peptide corresponding to amino acid residues 328-343 was conjugated to keyhole limpet hemocyanin (KLH-vZP3(328-343)) and used to immunise female Brandt's voles in order to test the efficacy of this peptide as a contraceptive antigen. High IgG antibody levels to the vZP3(328-343) peptide were present in the sera of female voles immunised with KLH-vZP3(328-343) and these also cross-reacted to the zona pellucida in ovaries of Brandt's vole. The fertility of the KLH-vZP3(328-343) -immunised voles was reduced by 50% compared with controls without evidence of significant ovarian pathology.
State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Biology, The Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100080, China.
Hui
H
Li
Yun-Shang
YS
Piao
Zhi-Bin
ZB
Zhang
Christopher M
CM
Hardy
Lyn A
LA
Hinds
D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D003411:Arvicolinae / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D001483:Base Sequence; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D003269:Contraception, Immunologic / Q000379:methods / Q000662:veterinary*; D006224:Cricetinae; D018076:DNA, Complementary / Q000235:genetics; D004527:Egg Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D005298:Fertility / Q000276:immunology; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D051379:Mice; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D051381:Rats; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D017386:Sequence Homology, Amino Acid; D022642:Vaccines, Contraceptive / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000235:genetics; D000072216:Zona Pellucida Glycoproteins
D018076:DNA, Complementary; D004527:Egg Proteins; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface; D022642:Vaccines, Contraceptive; D000072216:Zona Pellucida Glycoproteins