Extremely stable high molecular mass soluble multiprotein complex from eggs of sea urchin Strongylocentrotus intermedius with phosphatase activity.

It was proposed that most biological processes are performed by different protein complexes. In contrast to individual proteins and enzymes, their complexes usually have other biological functions, and their formation may be important system process for the expansion of diversity and biological functions of different molecules. Identification and characterization of embryonic components including proteins and their multiprotein complexes seem to be very important for an understanding of embryo function. We have isolated and analyzed for the first time a very stable multiprotein complex (SPC; approximately 1100 kDa) from the soluble fraction of extracts of the sea urchin embryos. By fast protein liquid chromatography (FPLC) gel filtration the SPC was well separated from other extract proteins. Stable multiprotein complex is stable in different drastic conditions but dissociates moderately in the presence of 8M urea + 1.0M NaCl. According to sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis data, this complex contains many major, moderate and minor proteins with molecular masses from 10 to 95 kDa. The SPC was destroyed by 8M urea or SDS, and its components were separated using thin layer chromatography, ion-exchange chromatography, gel filtration, and reverse phase chromatography. Using matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry of partially dissociated SPC, it was shown that the complex contains not only proteins (10-95 kDa) but also few dozens of peptides with molecular masses from 2 to 9.5 kDa. Short peptides form very strong complexes, which at the treatment of SPC with urea or SDS can be partially break down into smaller complexes having different peptide compositions. Reverse phase chromatography of these complexes after all type of abovementioned chromatographies led to detection from 6 to 11 distinct peaks corresponding to new complexes containing up to a few dozens of peptides. The SPCs possess alkaline phosphatase activity. Progress in the study of embryos protein complexes can help to understand their biological functions.