N-Terminal amino acid sequence of boar sperm acrosin. Homology with other serine proteinases.

Boar acrosin with a molecular weight of 38,000 had been isolated. An N-terminal amino acid sequence of 52 residues was determined on the S-carboxymethylated material. The protein contains a single peptide chain. Up to 48% of the positions in the sequence show identity with those of some serine proteinases. The highest degree of homology was found at the comparison with plasmin and chymotrypsin. The N-terminus of acrosin corresponds to that of a serine proteinase in the activated form. The N-terminal amino acid is valine.