High resolution analysis of human prostatic fluid by two-dimensional electrophoresis.

High-resolution two-dimensional electrophoresis has been used to resolve the major protein components of human prostatic fluid. Samples taken from individuals ranging in age from 19 to 74 years show ten major proteins that are consistently present in the fluids examined. Seven major proteins appear to have age-dependent patterns of synthesis and accumulation in the prostatic fluid. A major protein in the human fluid has electrophoretic properties similar to the glycosylated component of the rat ventral prostate secretory protein known as prostatic binding protein, prostatein, or estramustine binding protein. The isoelectric point/molecular weight of the human protein is 6.0/17,000 compared with 5.6/13,000 for the rat protein. Protein patterns from benign prostatic hyperplasia cases were not dramatically different from the normal patterns.