202. Identifying Sex-Specific Proteins (EXP-202)
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Vitellogenin is a protein produced in hen liver under the influence of estrogen. This sex-specific protein enters the circulatory system and is transported to the ovaries where it is broken down into the egg yolk proteins lipovitellin and phosvitin. In this exercise, students compare the proteins in egg yolk and in hen and rooster sera by electrophoresis and identify vitellogenin, lipovitellin and phosvitin. This exercise illustrates the use of electrophoresis for protein identification and introduces concepts in molecular endocrinology.