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`COLLAGENASE-LIKE' PEPTIDASE IN HUMAN, RAT AND BULL SPERMATOZOA

E. KOREN and S. MILKOVI

Summary.: A peptidase capable of splitting synthetic collagenase substrate and collagen peptides, `collagenase-like' peptidase, has been discovered in human semen, rat and bull epididymal spermatozoa and rat and bull testes. This enzyme is also present in human seminal plasma and sperm washings, but its total activity pattern in human semen fractions, its specific activity in washed spermatozoa and the negligible activity found in the azoöspermic ejaculate prove that it is a sperm enzyme. As shown by the thin-layer chromatography of the reaction products, `collagenase-like' peptidase cleaves synthetic collagenase substrate at the same site as bacterial collagenase does. The pH optimum of the `collagenase-like' peptidase is 7·5.

The enzyme has been partially purified from rat testis homogenate by ammonium sulphate saturation and gel filtration on a Sephadex G-200 column. Its molecular weight appears to be about 110,000. The possible rôle of this enzyme in fertilization is discussed.