INTERFERON SEQUENCE HOMOLOGY AND RECEPTOR BINDING ACTIVITY OF OVINE TROPHOBLAST ANTILUTEOLYTIC PROTEIN

Abstract

ABSTRACT Sequencing of the 40 N-terminal amino acids of the blastocyst protein responsible for blocking corpus luteum regression in early pregnancy in sheep revealed a 37% homology with human α-interferon; 28% of the remaining amino acid changes were conservative. 125I-Labelled human α-interferon bound to membrane receptors from sheep uteri with an approximate Kd of 4 × 10−11 M; binding was inhibited by unlabelled α-interferon or purified blastocyst antiluteolytic protein. The blastocyst antiluteolytic protein therefore closely resembles the interferon-α family of antiviral proteins.