Electrophoretic patterns of total, nuclear, and flagellar proteins from ejaculated human spermatozoa.

By means of selective solubilization methods and slab gel electrophoresis, reproducible patterns of 19, 37, and 56 protein bands were found to be associated with nuclear, "flagellar," and total human spermatozoa, respectively. Forty protein bands were found between the molecular weight of 12,400 to 160,000 daltons. Twelve bands were associated with values lower than 12,400 daltons. The nuclear major bands were located in a low molecular weight zone, while "flagellar" ones were located in a high molecular weight zone. None of these bands represents degradation products since a) in the solubilized samples neither acrosin, chymotrypsin, nor trypsin activities were present, b) in the presence of two protease inhibitors the same electrophoretic patterns were observed, and c) labelled globins added during sample manipulation were quantitatively recovered without degradation.