Physical Sciences and Mathematics Commons^™

An Epididymal Form Of Cauxin, A Carboxylesterase-Like Enzyme, Is Present And Active In Mammalian Male Reproductive Fluids, Heath W. Ecroyd, Maya Belghazi, Jl Dacheux, M Miyazaki, T Yamashita, Jl Gatti

Faculty of Science - Papers (Archive)

Mass spectrometric analysis of a prion protein (PrP)-containing complex isolated from ram cauda epididymal fluid revealed a protein that showed homology to a carboxylesterase-like protein previously identified in cat urine (cauxin). Using anticauxin antibodies, immunoreactive bands were detected in corpus and cauda epididymal fluid from all mammals tested (ram, boar, mouse, and cat). In the ram, the protein was also present in seminal fluid but not found to be associated with sperm. The bands reacting with the anti-cauxin antibody coincided with those having esterase activity in a zymographic assay and its levels paralleled the esterase activity of native epididymal fluids. …