D-aspartate oxidase is present in ovaries, eggs and embryos but not in testis of Xenopus laevis

D-aspartate oxidase (DASPO) is an FAD dependent flavoprotein which catalyze s the oxidative deamination of D-aspartate using oxygen as electron accepto r. D-aspartate and DASPO are supposed to be involved in the regulation of t he central nervous system and in the animal development. This manuscript de scribes for the first time the presence of DASPO in Xenopus laevis fertiliz ed eggs and embryos and suggests a different tissue distribution of this en zyme in adult male and female animals. In particular, by means of 2D-electr ophoresis and affinity purified specific anti-DASPO antibodies, the enzyme was localized in fertilized eggs of X. laevis and in ovaries of adult anima ls but it was shown to be absent in the testis suggesting a gender specific expression. The protein from Xenopus ovaries has been purified by means of immunoprecipitation and it has M-r of 30 kDa and pi of 8.1. (C) 1999 Elsev ier Science Inc. All rights reserved.