Biomaterial Database

Oxytocinase activity in human spermatozoa and its possible role in fertilization. 1990

A C Roy, and S S Ratnam

Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, National University of Singapore, National University Hospital.

Human spermatozoa were extracted with 1% Triton X-100 and analyzed for oxytocinase (E.C. 3.4.11.3) activity by means of two synthetic peptides. S-benzyl-L-cysteine-p-nitroanilide (BCN) and L-leucine-p-nitroanilide (LN), separately as substrates. The specific activity (mean +/- SD) of this proteolytic enzyme at Vmax in eight different extracts was 0.150 +/- 0.072 and 1.392 +/- 0.602 mIU/10(6) cells using BCN and LN, respectively. The enzyme showed optimal activity at pH 7.2 when BCN was the substrate, and at pH 7.4 with LN as the substrate. Spermatozoal oxytocinase activity may be involved directly or indirectly in the reproductive mechanisms leading to sperm acrosome reaction and fertilization.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D008297	Male		Males
D010122	Cystinyl Aminopeptidase	A zinc-containing sialoglycoprotein that is used to study aminopeptidase activity in the pathogenesis of hypertension. EC 3.4.11.3.	Cystine Arylamidase,Cystyl Aminopeptidase,Oxytocinase,Cystidyl Aminopeptidase,Cystinaminopeptidase,Cystine Aminopeptidase,Vasopressinase
D003545	Cysteine	A thiol-containing non-essential amino acid that is oxidized to form CYSTINE.	Cysteine Hydrochloride,Half-Cystine,L-Cysteine,Zinc Cysteinate,Half Cystine,L Cysteine
D005306	Fertilization	The fusion of a spermatozoon (SPERMATOZOA) with an OVUM thus resulting in the formation of a ZYGOTE.	Conception,Fertilization, Delayed,Fertilization, Polyspermic,Conceptions,Delayed Fertilization,Delayed Fertilizations,Fertilizations,Fertilizations, Delayed,Fertilizations, Polyspermic,Polyspermic Fertilization,Polyspermic Fertilizations
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000328	Adult	A person having attained full growth or maturity. Adults are of 19 through 44 years of age. For a person between 19 and 24 years of age, YOUNG ADULT is available.	Adults
D000626	Aminopeptidases	A subclass of EXOPEPTIDASES that act on the free N terminus end of a polypeptide liberating a single amino acid residue. EC 3.4.11.	Aminopeptidase
D000813	Anilides	Any aromatic amide obtained by acylation of aniline.
D013094	Spermatozoa	Mature male germ cells derived from SPERMATIDS. As spermatids move toward the lumen of the SEMINIFEROUS TUBULES, they undergo extensive structural changes including the loss of cytoplasm, condensation of CHROMATIN into the SPERM HEAD, formation of the ACROSOME cap, the SPERM MIDPIECE and the SPERM TAIL that provides motility.	Sperm,Spermatozoon,X-Bearing Sperm,X-Chromosome-Bearing Sperm,Y-Bearing Sperm,Y-Chromosome-Bearing Sperm,Sperm, X-Bearing,Sperm, X-Chromosome-Bearing,Sperm, Y-Bearing,Sperm, Y-Chromosome-Bearing,Sperms, X-Bearing,Sperms, X-Chromosome-Bearing,Sperms, Y-Bearing,Sperms, Y-Chromosome-Bearing,X Bearing Sperm,X Chromosome Bearing Sperm,X-Bearing Sperms,X-Chromosome-Bearing Sperms,Y Bearing Sperm,Y Chromosome Bearing Sperm,Y-Bearing Sperms,Y-Chromosome-Bearing Sperms