ELECTROPHORETIC PATTERNS OF TOTAL, NUCLEAR, AND FLAGELLAR PROTEINS FROM EJACULATED HUMAN SPERMATOZOA

Abstract

By means of selective solubilization methods and slab gel electrophoresis, reproducible patterns of 19, 37 and 56 protein bands were found to be associated with nuclear, flagellar and total human spermatozoa, respectively. Forty protein bands were found between the MW of 12,400-160,000 daltons. Twelve bands were associated with values lower than 12,400 daltons. The nuclear major bands were located in a low MW zone, while flagellar ones were located in a high MW zone. None of these bands represents degradation products since in the solubilized samples neither acrosin, chymotrypsin, nor trypsin activities were present; in the presence of 2 protease inhibitors the same electrophoretic patterns were observed; and labelled globins added during sample manipulation were quantitatively recovered without degradation.