The browser you are using is not supported by this website. All versions of Internet Explorer are no longer supported, either by us or Microsoft (read more here: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-365/windows/end-of-ie-support).

Please use a modern browser to fully experience our website, such as the newest versions of Edge, Chrome, Firefox or Safari etc.

Structural properties of semenogelin I.

På svenska

Author

Summary, in English

The zinc-binding protein semenogelin I is the major structural component of the gelatinous coagulum that is formed in freshly ejaculated semen. Semenogelin I is a rapidly evolving protein with a primary structure that consists of six repetitive units, each comprising approximately 60 amino acid residues. We studied the secondary and tertiary structure of semenogelin I by circular dichroism (CD) spectroscopy and Trp fluorescence emission spectroscopy. Fitting to the far-UV CD data indicated that the molecule comprises 5-10%alpha-helix and 20-30%beta-sheet formations. The far-UV spectrum of semenogelin I is clearly temperature dependent in the studied range 5-90 degrees C, and the signal at 222 nm increased with increasing temperature. The presence of Zn2+ did not change the secondary structure revealed by the far-UV CD spectrum, whereas it did alter the near-UV CD spectrum, which implies that rearrangements occurred on the tertiary structure level. The conformational change induced in semenogelin I by the binding of Zn2+ may contribute to the ability of this protein to form a gel.

Publishing year

2007

Language

English

Pages

4503-4510

Publication/Series

The FEBS Journal

Volume

274

Issue

17

Document type

Journal article

Publisher

Wiley-Blackwell

Topic

  • Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

Keywords

  • fertility
  • semen
  • semenogelin
  • zinc
  • structure

Status

Published

Research group

  • Clinical Chemistry, Malmö

ISBN/ISSN/Other

  • ISSN: 1742-464X