Biomaterial Database

Studies of the bulbo-urethral (Cowper's)-gland mucin and seminal gel of the boar. 1970

J C Boursnell, and E F Hartree, and P A Briggs

1. Moving-boundary electrophoresis of the mucin from the Cowper's gland of the boar revealed a sharp single peak at pH values from 1.1 to 9.0 and an isoelectric point of 1.1. 2. Neuraminidase treatment of the mucin, which removed at least 96% of the sialic acid groups, decreased the electrophoretic mobility at pH4 from -7.4x10(-5) (for the mucin) to -0.64x10(-5)cm(2)V(-1)s(-1). 3. Ultracentrifugal sedimentation values of s(20,w) showed a marked dependence on concentration. A hyperfine peak, similar to that given by ovine submaxillary secretion, persisted throughout the run at higher concentrations. Ultracentrifugal studies further showed a very low value for the diffusion coefficient (D(20,w) -1.57x10(-8)cm(2)/s). 4. Calculation of the approximate molecular weight from comparable s(20,w) and D(20,w) values gave a provisional value of 6.5x10(6). 5. Two proteins present in the boar vesicular secretion known as protein A and protein H (the haemagglutinating protein) were shown to promote the swelling of the mucin to form the characteristic rigid elastic gel of boar semen. It is suggested that protein A molecules particularly (mol.wt. 2.8x10(4)) cross-link with the long molecules of the mucin to form the seminal gel.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D008297	Male		Males
D008970	Molecular Weight	The sum of the weight of all the atoms in a molecule.	Molecular Weights,Weight, Molecular,Weights, Molecular
D009077	Mucins	High molecular weight mucoproteins that protect the surface of EPITHELIAL CELLS by providing a barrier to particulate matter and microorganisms. Membrane-anchored mucins may have additional roles concerned with protein interactions at the cell surface.	Mucin
D009438	Neuraminic Acids	Nine-carbon deoxyamino SUGAR ACIDS that are substrates for NEURAMINIDASE. Their derivatives include SIALIC ACIDS.	Acids, Neuraminic
D009439	Neuraminidase	An enzyme that catalyzes the hydrolysis of alpha-2,3, alpha-2,6-, and alpha-2,8-glycosidic linkages (at a decreasing rate, respectively) of terminal sialic residues in oligosaccharides, glycoproteins, glycolipids, colominic acid, and synthetic substrate. (From Enzyme Nomenclature, 1992)	Sialidase,Exo-alpha-Sialidase,N-Acylneuraminate Glycohydrolases,Oligosaccharide Sialidase,Exo alpha Sialidase,Glycohydrolases, N-Acylneuraminate,N Acylneuraminate Glycohydrolases,Sialidase, Oligosaccharide
D011506	Proteins	Linear POLYPEPTIDES that are synthesized on RIBOSOMES and may be further modified, crosslinked, cleaved, or assembled into complex proteins with several subunits. The specific sequence of AMINO ACIDS determines the shape the polypeptide will take, during PROTEIN FOLDING, and the function of the protein.	Gene Products, Protein,Gene Proteins,Protein,Protein Gene Products,Proteins, Gene
D002030	Bulbourethral Glands	Glands situated on each side of the prostate that secrete a fluid component of the seminal fluid into the urethra.	Cowper's Glands,Bulbourethral Gland,Cowper Glands,Cowpers Glands,Gland, Bulbourethral,Glands, Bulbourethral,Glands, Cowper's
D002499	Centrifugation, Density Gradient	Separation of particles according to density by employing a gradient of varying densities. At equilibrium each particle settles in the gradient at a point equal to its density. (McGraw-Hill Dictionary of Scientific and Technical Terms, 4th ed)	Centrifugations, Density Gradient,Density Gradient Centrifugation,Density Gradient Centrifugations,Gradient Centrifugation, Density,Gradient Centrifugations, Density
D004586	Electrophoresis	An electrochemical process in which macromolecules or colloidal particles with a net electric charge migrate in a solution under the influence of an electric current.	Electrophoreses
D005782	Gels	Colloids with a solid continuous phase and liquid as the dispersed phase; gels may be unstable when, due to temperature or other cause, the solid phase liquefies; the resulting colloid is called a sol.