Open AccessMolecular Forms of Human Chorionic Gonadotropin in Choriocarcinon Serum and Urine
Author(s) -
Nishimura Ryuichiro,
Kitajima Takashi,
Hasegawa Kazuo,
Takeuchi Kunio,
Mochizuki Matsuto
Publication year - 1989
Publication title -
japanese journal of cancer research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.035
H-Index - 141
eISSN - 1349-7006
pISSN - 0910-5050
DOI - 10.1111/j.1349-7006.1989.tb01635.x
Subject(s) - urine , choriocarcinoma , human chorionic gonadotropin , chemistry , western blot , endocrinology , isoelectric focusing , molecular mass , medicine , blot , microbiology and biotechnology , biology , biochemistry , hormone , enzyme , gene
The molecular forms of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) were assessed in parallel serum and urine samples from a choriocarcinoma patient by gel chromatography, isoelectric focusing, and Western blot analysis. There were significant qualitative differences in the molecular forms of hCG between the serum and the urine. The serum hCG had a greater molecular weight and a stronger acidic charge than the urinary hCG. These results may be attributed to differences of sialic acid contents. Affinity chromatography using Ricinus communis agglutinin‐conjugated Sepharose showed that the serum hCG was completely sialylated, while the urinary hCG was partially desialylated. In addition to the complete hCG molecule, two kinds of hCGβ‐related fragments were detected in the urine of the patient, but not in the serum. In the Western blot using anti‐hCGβ or anti‐hCGβ‐CTP under reducing conditions, the urine presented a new band (CTP′) with Mr 23,000 in addition to the β‐subunit, while the serum revealed a single band of the β‐subunit with or without a reducing reagent. The present data revealed striking qualitative differences in the molecular forms of hCG between serum and urine of a patient with choriocarcinoma.