Bovine fetus-specific serum proteins. Purification and characterization of alpha1-fetoprotein and immunological identification of alpha2- and beta-fetoproteins

Biochim Biophys Acta. 1978 Jul 21;535(1):138-49. doi: 10.1016/0005-2795(78)90040-5.

Abstract

Bovine alpha1-fetoprotein was isolated from fetal calf serum by successive procedures of concanavalin A-Sepharose chromatography, DEAE-Sephadex chromatography, SP-Sephadex chromatography and preparative disc polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The bovine alpha1-fetoprotein preparation was considered homogeneous by several physicochemical and immunochemical criteria. Bovine alpha1-fetoprotein has a molecular weight of 68 000 with an amino acid composiotn similar to that of other mammalian alhpa1-fetoprotein. In addition, bovine alpha1-fetoprotein was shown to exist as two distinct variants on the basis of carbohydrate heterogeneity. alpha2-Fetoprotein and a new beta-fetoprotein were immunologically identified in fetal calf serum. These fetoproteins, like alpha1-fetoprotein, were not detectable in non-pregnant cow serum by immunoelectrophoresis.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acids / analysis
  • Animals
  • Antigens / analysis
  • Cattle
  • Cross Reactions
  • Fetal Proteins / immunology*
  • Humans
  • Molecular Weight
  • Sheep
  • Species Specificity
  • Swine
  • alpha-Fetoproteins / immunology
  • alpha-Fetoproteins / isolation & purification*

Substances

  • Amino Acids
  • Antigens
  • Fetal Proteins
  • alpha-Fetoproteins