Binding of progesterone to the proteins of the uterine luminal fluid. Identification of uteroglobin as the binding protein.

1. The uterine luminal fluid of rabbits treated with estradiol and progesterone contains a protein factor with high affinity for [3-H] progesterone which is not present in the uterine secretion of control rabbits treated with estradiol. 2. This progesterone dependent factor is shown by gel filtration and polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis to be identical with the uterus specific protein uteroglobin, which seems to be required during the preimplantation phase. Uteroglobin specific antiserum, prepared in guinea pigs, completely inhibits the progesterone binding activity of the proteins of the uterine fluid. 3. Progesterone binding to uteroglobin is dependent upon millimolar concentrations of dithioerythritol. At saturation, one molecule of progesterone binds per uteroglobin molecule and the apparent association constant is 2 x 10-6 M-1 at 0 degrees C. 4. The progesterone binding species of uteroglobin exhibits a molecular weight of around 12 000 on polyacrylamide gels containing dodecylsulfate, and of 15 000 upon gel filtration, indicating a non-globular shape. This molecule is compased of two subunits of similar molecular size which are held together by a disulfide bridge among other forces.