Identification of novel proteolytic forms of osteocalcin in human urine

Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 2003 Jul 11;306(4):973-80. doi: 10.1016/s0006-291x(03)01093-3.

Abstract

In this study, we report the isolation and characterization of osteocalcin in human urine using mass spectrometry and N-terminal sequencing. Multiple proteolytic forms of osteocalcin were found, which consisted of 16-27 residues from the middle region of the molecule. Several fragments had residue Gly7 at the N-terminus and the most predominant was fragment 7-31. Additional fragments starting from residue Asp14 were detected in the samples of children and young adults. Immunochemical detection of urine osteocalcin fragments had a statistically significant negative correlation to bone mineral density in evaluation of urine samples from 75-year-old women. Thus, the measurement of osteocalcin fragments in urine may have potential applications in diagnostics related to disorders of bone metabolism.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Aspartic Acid / chemistry
  • Bone Density
  • Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid
  • Female
  • Glycine / chemistry
  • Humans
  • Mass Spectrometry
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Osteocalcin / chemistry
  • Osteocalcin / urine*
  • Protein Structure, Tertiary
  • Spectrometry, Mass, Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption-Ionization
  • Time Factors
  • Urine / chemistry

Substances

  • Osteocalcin
  • Aspartic Acid
  • Glycine