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Actin in ejaculated human sperm cells.

D Ochs·D P Wolf
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Abstract

Previous studies have identified an "actin-like" protein in human sperm by indirect immunofluorescence microscopy with various probes, but no real biochemical confirmation of actin was made. In this study, two-dimensional (2-D) gels of Nonidet P-40 (NP-40) extracts of purified human sperm cells revealed a protein with appropriate pI and molecular weight coordinates for actin. When excised from a 2-D gel, cleaved with N-chlorosuccinimide, and separated on a sodium dodecyl sulfate slab gel, this putative actin showed a cleavage pattern identical to those from known actin. Furthermore, when sperm were immediately purified from whole semen and extracted with 0.3% NP-40, actin was detected almost entirely in the soluble fraction, indicative of unpolymerized actin. Conclusions from these experiments support those implied by direct immunofluorescence microscopy: actin is present in human sperm and appears to be mainly unpolymerized.

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ActinsDetergentsElectrophoresis, Polyacrylamide GelHumansIsoelectric PointMaleMolecular WeightPeptide FragmentsSpermatozoaJournal Article

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D Ochs, D P Wolf. 1985. Actin in ejaculated human sperm cells.. https://doi.org/10.1095/biolreprod33.5.1223

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