The proteins in human seminal plasma were mapped by high-resolution two-dimensional electrophoresis (ISO-DALT and BASO-DALT systems). When analyzed under dissociating conditions, samples from normal fertile males revealed a pattern of over 200 proteins, ranging in mass from 10 000 to 100 000 daltons. Comparison of the mapped proteins from these males and those who had undergone vasectomy allowed us to identify one series of glycoproteins as missing from the semen from vasectomized individuals. Glycoproteins isolated by affinity chromatography with use of concanavalin A were also mapped. Some of the protein spots were identified either by co-electrophoresis with purified proteins or by the electrophoretic transfer of proteins to nitrocellulose sheets and subsequent detection by immunological procedures. The proteins identified include a number of serum proteins as well as prostatic acid phosphatase and creatine kinase. Proteolytic events shown to occur during the liquefaction of semen that occurs early after collection indicate the importance of carefully controlled collection and preparation methods for clinical evaluation of seminal plasma. Ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid and phenylmethylsulfonyl fluoride inhibit this proteolysis.

A protein series common to the urine and prostatic tissue of 16 of 17 patients with prostatic adenocarcinoma has been identified by high-resolution two-dimensional gel electrophoresis. These proteins, designated PCA-1, have a relative molecular mass in sodium dodecyl sulfate of about 40000. Analyses of urines from eight age-matched controls, seven patients with other ty pes of urogenital malignancies, two patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia, and five patients with malignancies not associated with the urogenital system failed to show PCA-1 in the patterns. These preliminary findings suggest that this protein should be systematically investigated as a candidate marker for prostatic adenocarcinoma in man.

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The use of carbamylated charge standards for testing batches of ampholytes used in two-dimensional electrophoresisA method of testing batches of ampholytes is presented. By using carbamylated charge standards to co-electrophorese with the protein sample in the first-dimension isoelectric focusing gel, one can monitor, after running and staining the seconddimension sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) slab gel, the continuity of the pH gradient. Charge standards can also be used to check the reproducibility of the pH gradient among batches of ampholytes and to modify the new batch with a small amount of a narrow range ampholyte to assure reproducibility of experiments. Ampholytes for comparison were obtained from three major manufacturers.

We mapped the proteins of human urine by high-resolution two-dimensional electrophoresis, utilizing the ISO-DALT system. Wide-range pH gradients and narrow-range acid gradients were both used in the first-dimension separations. The patterns revealed proteins ranging in relative molecular mass from 10 000 to 90 000. Proteins identified in the map included transferrin, albumin, hemopexin, alpha 2-HS glycoprotein, alpha 1-antitrypsin. Gc globulin, alpha 1-acid glycoprotein, Zn alpha 2-glycoprotein, retinol binding protein, beta 2-microglobulin, the immunoglobulin light chains, and MAUP (most acid urinary protein). The use and utility of internal-charge and molecular-mass standards are described. We used electrophoretic transfer of proteins to nitrocellulose sheets and subsequent detection by immunological methods to identify some proteins.