Journal of Glycobiology
Open Access

Abstract

The Minute Structural Difference between the Hormone hCG and the Autocrine Hyperglycosylated hCG

Laurence A Cole

Introduction: In 1997 I discovered hyperglycosylated hCG, a separate and independent molecule to the hormone hCG. The structure of hyperglycosylated hCG was also examined, it was a molecule varying from hCG by just 3 or 4 small sugar side chains, or 2.8% of molecular weight. While the hormone hCG binds a luteinizing hormone (LH)/hCG hormone receptor, hyperglycosylated hCG and its β-subunit are autocrines binding and antagonizing a TGF-β-II receptor. Here structural differences between the two molecules are investigated. Methods: Nicking or cleavage of the hormone hCG and the autocrine hyperglycosylated hCG, and dissociation of subunits were carefully investigated using sequence analysis. Results: Research showed that hyperglycosylated hCG was much more rapidly nicked or cleaved at β47-48 than the hormone hCG. And that nicked hCG was much more rapidly dissociated into subunits than non-nicked hCG. Discussion: A model was generated. As proposed, hyperglycosylated hCG is first rapidly nicked or cleaved at β47-48 and then rapidly dissociated. The nicked hyperglycosylated hCG β-subunit antagonizes the TGF-β-ll receptor. In contrast, the endocrine hCG is blocked from nicking, which limits dissociation, only intact hCG binds the LH/hCG hormone receptor.