Detection of prostatic tissue and seminal plasma peptides reacting with human seminal fluid acid phosphatase antibodies

Human prostatic acid phosphatase: selected properties and practical applications

Human prostatic acid phosphatase (EC 3.1.3.2) is a non-specific phosphomonoesterase, synthetized and secreted into seminal plasma under androgenic control. The enzyme is a dimer of molecular weight around 100 kDa. Gene coding this protein is localized on chromosome 3. Since many years prostatic phosphatase has been used as a marker of diagnosis and therapy control of cancer of the prostate gland. The biological role of this enzyme, however, remains unknown and needs further exploration.

Electrophoretical patterns of seminal plasma proteins in patients with cystic fibrosis

Seminal plasma (n = 12) from cystic fibrosis (CF) patients were analyzed by gel-electrophoresis using seminal plasma and expressed prostatic secretion from fertile men as controls. Heavy precipitation at the entering position of the gel and streaking in the gel matrix was observed, demonstrating a reduced solubility of seminal proteins in CF. Comparison of the protein patterns evidenced that CF-seminal plasma (CF-SP) mainly consisted of prostatic components. Although lactoferrin was undetectable in all samples, trace amounts of low molecular weight proteins were observed in two patients. This latter finding could imply that CF-SP may contain proteolytic fragments of prostatic and/or vesicular proteins or de novo synthesized components.