Abstract
Proteins of the serum amyloid A (SAA) family have been remarkably conserved in evolution. Their biologic function(s) are not fully defined but they are likely to be a part of primordial host defense. We have detected a ∼ 12‐kDa protein reacting with antibodies against serum amyloid A (SAA) in human colostrum by western blotting. Mass spectrometry identified the reactive species as SAA1, previously identified as a prominent member of the acute‐phase response in serum. Our finding SAA1 in human colostrum contrasts with bovine, caprine and ovine colostrum where a species corresponding to putative SAA3 is uniformly present. SAA1 protein in human colostrum presumably contributes to neonatal protection.
Highlights
Human serum amyloid A (SAA) proteins constitute a family of proteins with genes encoded on a small region of chromosome 11p15.1 [1,2], syntenic to murine chromosome 7 [3]
The C-1007 antibody was developed as a monoclonal antibody specific for SAA [18], and crossreactivity between all members of the SAA protein family occurs due to extensive sequence conservation
It was suggested that the human SAA3 locus represents an unexpressed pseudogene [19], that report did not evaluate breast tissue or secretions
Summary
Human serum amyloid A (SAA) proteins constitute a family of proteins with genes encoded on a small region of chromosome 11p15.1 [1,2], syntenic to murine chromosome 7 [3]. Earlier sequence data from a genomic clone for SAA3 ( called GSAA1) predicted a protein with 104 aa but with prominent differences in the amino-terminal region [13]. In 2001, McDonald et al [14] found a highly abundant protein with a sequence similar to that predicted for SAA3 in bovine, equine and ovine colostrum.
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