title: Isolation and characterization of transferrin from common carp (Cyprinus carpio L) seminal plasma.
abstract: Transferrin (Tf) in fish is recognized as a component of non-specific humoral defense mechanisms against bacteria. It is a major protein of common carp seminal plasma but its structure and localization in carp testis is unknown. In this study we developed a simple and efficient three-step purification procedure consisting of affinity chromatography (Con A-Sepharose), hydrophobic interaction chromatography (Phenyl Sepharose) and gel filtration (Superdex 200). The molecular mass of Tf has been determined to be 73.6 kDa and isoelectric point 5.1. The peculiar characteristics of carp transferrin were the lack of carbohydrate component and binding of iron ions by only one functional iron-binding site. Western blot analysis revealed a strong similarity of carp seminal plasma Tf to carp blood Tf and Tf from seminal plasma of other cyprinids but a lower similarity to salmonid and percid fishes. Tf was localized to the blood vessels of the carp testis which strongly suggest that most Tf of carp seminal plasma originates from blood. In conclusion, seminal plasma Tf has a unique structure and is similar or identical to blood Tf.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gamete and Embryo Biology, Semen Biology Group, Institute of Animal Reproduction and Food Research, 10-747 Olsztyn, Poland. mario@pan.olsztyn.pl
authors.forename: Mariola A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Dietrich
authors.forename: Dominik
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Zmijewski
authors.forename: Halina
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Karol
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hejmej
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Bilińska
authors.forename: Patrycja
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Jurecka
authors.forename: Ilgiz
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Irnazarow
authors.forename: Mariola
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Słowińska
authors.forename: Piotr
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Hliwa
authors.forename: Andrzej
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ciereszko
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002347:Carps / Q000276:immunology*; D004591:Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel; D007150:Immunohistochemistry / Q000662:veterinary; D007501:Iron / Q000276:immunology; D007526:Isoelectric Point; D008297:Male; D008970:Molecular Weight; D012661:Semen / Q000276:immunology*; D021241:Spectrometry, Mass, Electrospray Ionization / Q000662:veterinary; D013737:Testis / Q000276:immunology*; D014168:Transferrin / Q000737:chemistry / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification*
chemical_list: D014168:Transferrin; D007501:Iron