Identification of multiple low molecular weight placental prolactin-like proteins produced by rat trophoblast cells

in Journal of Endocrinology
Authors:
M. J. Soares
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S. K. De
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B. A. Foster
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J. A. Julian
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S. R. Glasser
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ABSTRACT

Rat trophoblast tissue was found to synthesize a number of low molecular weight proteins possessing prolactin-like characteristics. There appear to be at least three proteins that cross-react with antisera to pituitary prolactin. Two of the proteins had a molecular weight of 25 000, similar to ovine pituitary prolactin, and isoelectric points of 6·8 and 7·0. The third immunoreactive protein had a lower molecular weight (23 500), similar in size to human placental lactogen, and a slightly more acidic isoelectric point of 6·75. The molecular weight variants cross-reacted with an antipeptide serum that was generated to a synthetic peptide representing amino acids 150 to 164 of rat placental lactogen-2 (PL-2). Based on this analysis, we consider these proteins to be related to PL-2.Analysis of trophoblast proteins by gel-filtration chromatography resulted in the identification of another trophoblast prolactin. This material eluted earlier than PL-2-related proteins on a gel-filtration column, possessed prolactin-like activity (determined by competition with ovine pituitary prolactin for rabbit mammary gland or rat liver prolactin receptors) but showed limited cross-reactivity with either the antiserum to pituitary prolactin or the antiserum to the PL-2 peptide. We have thus identified multiple low molecular weight trophoblast prolactins, possessing different biochemical and immunological characteristics.

J. Endocr. (1988) 116, 101–106

 

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