Conformational features and thermal stability of bovine seminal plasma protein PDC-109 oligomers and phosphorylcholine-bound complexes

Research output: Contribution to journalResearch articleContributedpeer-review

Contributors

  • María Gasset - , Spanish National Research Council (CSIC) (Author)
  • José L. Saiz - , Spanish National Research Council (CSIC) (Author)
  • José Laynez - , Spanish National Research Council (CSIC) (Author)
  • Libia Sanz - , University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover (Author)
  • Marc Gentzel - , University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover (Author)
  • Edda Töpfer-Petersen - , University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover (Author)
  • Juan J. Calvete - , Spanish National Research Council (CSIC), University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover (Author)

Abstract

At ejaculation, PDC-109, the major heparin-binding protein of bull seminal plasma, binds to the phosphorylcholine group of sperm lipids and modulates capacitation promoted by glycosaminoglycans during sperm residence in the female genital tract. Combination of size-exclusion chromatography, analytical ultracentrifugation, circular dichroism, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, and differential scanning calorimetry has allowed us to biophysically characterize PDC-109 and its interaction with phosphorylcholine. PDC-109 can be regarded as a polydisperse molecule whose aggregation state can be modulated by the solute composition of its solution environment. Dissociation of PDC-109 oligomers occurs upon increasing the concentration of either NaCl, EDTA, CaCl2, or phosphorylcholine, suggesting that both ionic and hydrophobic interactions are responsible for the aggregation tendency of PDC-109 monomers. Dissociation processes are accompanied by exposure of peptide bonds to the solvent, changes in the environment of tyrosine and tryptophan residues, and a slight increase in the turn content at the expense of non-regular structure. Analysis of the heat-induced denaturation of PDC-109 oligomers revealed two melting transitions at about 36°C (irreversible) and 55°C (partially reversible) characterized by calorimetric enthalpy changes of 42 kJ/mol and 217 kJ/mol, respectively. These transitions could be assigned to the dissociation of oligomers and to the cooperative unfolding of PDC-109 monomers, respectively. The modulation of the aggregation state of PDC-109 by its molecular environment and by phosphorylcholine binding suggests possible mechanisms for capacitation mediated by the seminal plasma protein.

Details

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)735-744
Number of pages10
JournalEuropean Journal of Biochemistry
Volume250
Issue number3
Publication statusPublished - 15 Dec 1997
Peer-reviewedYes
Externally publishedYes

External IDs

PubMed 9461296
ORCID /0000-0002-4482-6010/work/142251057

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Keywords

  • Bovine seminal plasma protein PDC0-109, Circular dichroism, Differential scanning calorimetry, Heparin-binding protein, Phosphorylcholine-binding protein

Library keywords