[go: up one dir, main page]
More Web Proxy on the site http://driver.im/
Skip to main content

Structure and Function of the Gonadotropin Free α Molecule of Pregnancy

  • Conference paper
Glycoprotein Hormones

Part of the book series: Serono Symposia USA ((SERONOSYMP))

Abstract

There appears to be only a single gene for the gonadotropin α-subunit in humans (1, 2), but the α polypeptide may combine noncovalently with any of several β-subunits to form one of the heterodimeric hormones, LH, FSH, TSH or hCG. Less commonly appreciated is the notion that substantial quantities of α are secreted in uncombined or “free α” forms.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Subscribe and save

Springer+ Basic
£29.99 /Month
  • Get 10 units per month
  • Download Article/Chapter or eBook
  • 1 Unit = 1 Article or 1 Chapter
  • Cancel anytime
Subscribe now

Buy Now

Chapter
GBP 19.95
Price includes VAT (United Kingdom)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
GBP 35.99
Price includes VAT (United Kingdom)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
GBP 44.99
Price includes VAT (United Kingdom)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Fiddes JC, Goodman HM. Isolation, cloning and sequence analysis of the cDNA for the α-subunit of human chorionic gonadotropin. Nature 1980; 281: 351–6.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  2. Boothby M, Ruddon RW, Anderson C, McWilliams D, Boime I. A single gonadotropin α-subunit gene in normal tissue and tumor-derived cell lines. J Biol Chem 1981; 256: 5121–7.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Ashitaka Y, Nishimura R, Futamura K, Ohashi M, Tojo S. Serum and chorionic tissue concentrations of human chorionic gonadotropin and its subunits during pregnancy. Endocrinol Jpn 1974; 21: 547–50.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Reuter AM, Gaspard UJ, Deville JL, Vrindts-Gevaert Y, Franchimont P. Serum concentrations of human chorionic gonadotrophin and its alpha and beta subunits. Clin Endocrinol 1980; 13: 305–17.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Wehmann RE, Nisula BC. Metabolic clearance rates of the subunits of human chorionic gonadotropin in man. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 1979; 48: 753–9.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Wehmann RE, Nisula BC. Metabolic and renal clearance rates of purified human chorionic gonadotropin. J Clin Invest 1981; 68: 184–94.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Blithe DL, Nisula BC. Similarity of the clearance rates of free a-subunit and a-subunit dissociated from intact human chorionic gonadotropin, despite differences in sialic acid contents. Endocrinology 1987; 121: 1215–20.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Ozturk M, Brown N, Milunsky A, Wands J. Physiological studies of human chorionic gonadotropin and free subunits in the amniotic fluid compartment compared to those in maternal serum. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 1988; 67: 1117–21.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Blithe DL, Nisula BC. Variations in the oligosaccharides on free and combined alpha subunits of human choriogonadotropin in pregnancy. Endocrinology 1985; 117: 2218–28.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Kessler MJ, Reddy MS, Shah RH, Bahl OP. Structures of N-glycosidic carbohydrate units of human chorionic gonadotropin. J Biol Chem 1979; 254: 7901–8.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Fein HG, Rosen SW, Weintraub BD. Increased glycosylation of serum hCG and subunits from eutopic and ectopic sources: comparison with placental and urinary forms. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 1980; 50: 1111–20.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. Posillico EG, Handwerger S, Tyrey L. Demonstration of intracellular and secreted forms of large human chorionic gonadotrophin alpha subunit in cultures of normal placental tissue. Placenta 1983; 4: 439–48.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. Blithe DL. Carbohydrate composition of the alpha subunit of human choriogonadotropin and the free alpha molecules produced in pregnancy: most free alpha and some combined hCG-alpha molecules are fucosylated. Endocrinology 1990; 126: 2788–99.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. Kornfeld R, Kornfeld S. Assembly of asparagine-linked oligosaccharides. Annu Rev Biochem 1985; 54: 631–64.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. Schachter H. Biosynthetic controls that determine the branching and micro-heterogeneity of protein-bound oligosaccharides. Biochem Cell Biol 1986; 64: 163–81.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. Weishaar G, Hiyama J, Renwick AGC. Site-specific N-glycosylation of human chorionic gonadotropin: structural analysis of glycopeptides by one-and two-dimensional 1H NMR spectroscopy. Glycobiology 1991; 1: 393–404.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  17. Tabas I, Kornfeld S. The synthesis of complex-type oligosaccharides: identification of an α-D-mannosidase activity in a late stage of processing of complex-type oligosaccharides. J Biol Chem 1978; 253: 7779–86.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. Harpaz H, Schachter H. Control of glycoproteiin synthesis: bovine colostrum UDP-N-acetylglucosamine: α-D-mannoside β2-N-acetylglucosaminyltransferase I. Separation from UDP-N-acetylglucosamine: α-D-mannoside β2-Nacetylglucosaminyltransferase II, partial purification and substrate specificity. J Biol Chem 1980; 255: 4885–93.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  19. Longmore GD, Schachter H. Product-identification and substrate-specificity studies of the GDP-L-fucose: 2-acetamido-2-deoxy-β-D-glucoside (Fuc goes to Asn-linked G1cNAc) 6-α-L-fucosyltransferase in a Golgi-rich fraction from porcine liver. Carbohydr Res 1982; 100: 365–92.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  20. Corless CL, Bielinska MB, Ramabhadran TV, et al. Gonadotropin a subunit: differential processing of free and combined forms in human trophoblast and transfected mouse cells. J Biol Chem 1987; 262: 14197–203.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  21. Parsons TF, Pierce JG. Free α-like material from bovine pituitaries: removal of its O-linked oligosaccharide permits combination with lutropin-β. J Biol Chem 1984; 259: 2662–6.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  22. Benveniste R, Conway MC, Puett D, Rabinowitz D. Heterogeneity of the human chorionic gonadotropin α-subunit secreted by cultured choriocarcinoma (JEG) cells. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 1979; 48: 85–91.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  23. Tulsiani DRP, Harris TM, Touster O. Swainsonine inhibits the biosynthesis of complex glycoproteins by inhibition of Golgi Mannosidase II. J Biol Chem 1982; 257: 7936–9.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  24. Kang MS, Elbein AD. Alterations in the structure of the oligosaccharides of vesicular stomatitis virus G protein by Swainsonine. J Virol 1983; 46: 60–9.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  25. Blithe DL. N-linked oligosaccharides on free alpha interfere with its ability to combine with human chorionic gonadotropin-beta subunit. J Biol Chem 1990; 265: 21951–6.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  26. Skarulis MC, Wehmann RE, Nisula BC, Blithe DL. Glycosylation changes in human chorionic gonadotropin and free alpha subunit as gestation progresses. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 1992; 75: 91–6.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  27. Kornfeld R, Ferris C. Interaction of immunoglobulin glycopeptides with Concanavalin A. J Biol Chem 1975; 250: 2614–9.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  28. Kornfeld K, Reitman ML, Kornfeld R. The carbohydrate binding specificity of pea and lentil lectins: fucose is an important determinant. J Biol Chem 1981; 256: 6633–40.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  29. Canfield RE, Morgan FJ, Kammerman S, Bell JJ, Agnosto GM. Studies of human chorionic gonadotropin. Recent Prog Horm Res 1971; 27: 121–64.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  30. Blithe DL, Richards RG, Skarulis MC. Free alpha molecules from pregnancy stimulate secretion of prolactin from human decidual cells: a novel function for free alpha in pregnancy. Endocrinology 1991; 129: 2257–9.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  31. Tyson JE, Hwang P, Guyda H, Friesen HG. Studies of prolactin secretion in human pregnancy. Am J Obstet Gynecol 1972; 113: 14–20.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  32. Clements JA, Reyes FI, Winter JSD, Faiman C. Studies on human sexual development, IV. Fetal pituitary and serum, and amniotic fluid concentrations of prolactin. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 1977; 44: 408–13.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  33. Begeot M, Hemming FJ, Dubois PM, Combarnous Y, Dubois PM, Aubert ML. Induction of pituitary lactotrope differentiation by luteinizing hormone a subunit. Science 1984; 226: 566–8.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  34. Begeot M, Hemming FJ, Martinat N, Dubois MP, Dubois PM. Gonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH) stimulates immunoreactive differentiation of pituitary lactotropes. Endocrinology 1983; 112: 2224–6.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  35. Spratt DI, Chin WW, Ridgway EC, Crowley WF. Administration of low dose pulsatile gonadotropin-releasing hormone to GnRH-deficient men regulates free alpha-subunit secretion. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 1986; 62: 102–8.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  36. Handwerger S, Harmon I, Costello A, Markoff E. Cyclic AMP inhibits the synthesis and release of prolactin from human decidual cells. Mol Cell Endocrinol 1987; 50: 99–106.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  37. Sinha YN, Selby FW, Lewis UJ, Vanderlaan WP. A homologous radioimmunoassay for human prolactin. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 1973; 36: 509–16.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Authors

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 1994 Springer-Verlag New York, Inc.

About this paper

Cite this paper

Blithe, D.L. (1994). Structure and Function of the Gonadotropin Free α Molecule of Pregnancy. In: Lustbader, J.W., Puett, D., Ruddon, R.W. (eds) Glycoprotein Hormones. Serono Symposia USA. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4613-8386-4_14

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4613-8386-4_14

  • Publisher Name: Springer, New York, NY

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4613-8388-8

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4613-8386-4

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

Publish with us

Policies and ethics