Stabilization of homogeneous preparations of Pregnancy Zone Protein liophilized in the presence of saccharose. Structural and functional studies".

BONACCI GR; SANCHEZ MC; GONZALEZ M; CESCHIN D; FIDELIO G; VIDES MA; CHIABRANDO GA

JOURNAL OF BIOCHEMICAL AND BIOPHYSICAL METHODS

ELSEVIER SCIENCE BV

Lugar: Amsterdam; Año: 2000 vol. 46 p. 95 - 95

0165-022X

uman pregnancy zone protein (PZP) is a macromolecule of 360 kDa, organized as adisulfide-linked homodimer of two 180 kDa subunits, with an amino acid sequence and structureremarkably similar to that of human a2-Macroglobulin. Homogeneous PZP samples undergo fastaging forming oligomeric aggregates of high molecular weight. This aged PZP loses its ability tointeract with proteinases and consequently, non-recongnition of receptors occurs. In the presentwork, we assessed the effect of saccharose on the stability of native PZP on lyophilized sampleskept for a long period of time. Herein, we demonstrate that the addition of 0.25 M saccharose tohomogeneous PZP and further lyophilization is enough to prevent aging and preserve functionalactivity for more than 1 year. Hence, high quality samples, in terms of purity, stability andfunctional activity will allow to develop biochemical studies in order to know the PZP role inphysiological and pathological states where the protein levels are increa