The use of two primers allowed the specific enzymatic amplification of elongation factor 2 starting with total double-stranded cDNA from human ovarian granulosa cells. The amplified DNA fragment with a length of 1765 bp was restricted and sequenced by the shot gun approach. From the sequences obtained from the amplified fragment and the cDNA insert of pHGRSl [Rapp et al. (1988) Biol. Chem. Hoppe-Seyler369,247-250] respectively, the DNA sequence containing the complete coding as well as the 3'-untranslated region was assembled. Vollständige Sequenz der kodierenden Region des menschlichen Elongationsfaktors 2 (EF-2) mittels enzymatischer Amplifizierung der cDNA aus humanen ovariellen GranulosazellenZusammenfassung: Die Verwendung von zwei Primer-Oligonucleotiden ermöglichte die spezifische enzymatische Amplifizierung von ElongationsFaktor-2-cDNA ausgehend von Gesamt-cDNA aus humanen ovariellen Granulosazellen. Das amplifizierte DNA-Fragment wies eine Länge von 1765 Nucleotiden auf. Es wurde durch Restriktionsenzyme fragmentiert. Die erhaltenen Restriktionsmischungen wurden kloniert und nach der "shotgun"-Methode sequenziert. Von der erhaltenen Sequenz des amplifizierten DNA-Fragments und der Sequenz des cDNA-Inserts des Klons pHGR81 m wurde eine DNA-Sequenz zusammengefügt, welche sowohl die vollständige kodierende als auch die 3 f -untranslatierte Region der cDNA für den humanen Elongationsfaktor 2 umfaßte.

We isolated the major protein of apparent Mr of 15,000-16,000 from seminal plasma as well as from seminal vesicle secretion of bull and proved by amino acid analysis and tryptic peptide mapping that the two proteins were identical. An antiserum against this major protein was employed to quantitate and identify the major protein in seminal plasma as well as seminal vesicle secretion. The antiserum did not cross-react with proteins from bovine or human plasma or follicular fluid respectively. Cell-free translation of poly(A)RNA from seminal vesicle tissue and immunoprecipitation yielded one major species with apparent Mr of 18,000. Using the anti-major protein antiserum, this major species was specifically immuno absorbed. Cloning and sequencing of a major protein-specific cDNA led to the identification of clone pMP17, encoding a precursor of the major protein of 128 amino acid residues. We proved that the major protein is identical to protein PDC 109 (Esch et al., Biochem. Biophys. Res. Comm. 113:861-867, 1983). The seminal vesicles synthesize major protein in an androgen-dependent fashion. In addition to intraluminal secretion of the vas deferens, ampullary spermatozoa revealed an intense immunoreaction which was restricted to the neck region of the sperm head and the middle piece, while the principal piece of the tail as well as the sperm head were devoid of immunoreactive material. Epididymal epithelium (as well as calf seminal vesicle epithelium) showed no immunoreactivity with major protein antiserum. Immunoelectron microscopy demonstrated that only spermatozoa devoid of a plasma membrane around the middle piece were able to bind the antiserum against major protein. After removal of the plasma membrane from epididymal spermatozoa, binding of major protein to subplasmalemmal binding sites was visualised using gold-labeled MP. Transblotting with gold-labeled MP demonstrated a protein of about 66 kDa which appears to represent the major protein-receptor. Binding of major protein to the receptor (after loss of the plasma membrane in the mid-piece region of the spermatozoa after contact with secretions from seminal vesicles) is interpreted as a physiological process presumably related to the onset of sperm motility.

The relative levels of mRNAs for relaxin, prolactin, inhibin and oxytocin have been measured in porcine granulosa as well as luteal cells by hybridisation to single-stranded synthetic DNA. The likelihood of a paracrme function of oxytocm and prolactin in the porcine ovary was inferred from the in vitro effects of both hormones on progesterone secretion of ovarian cells. Both hormones were found to inhibit progesterone secretion of luteal cells. In contrast. only prolactin but not oxytocin stimulated progesterone secretion in granulosa cells. ProlactinmRNA Hybridization

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