biostudies-literatureSun WBiotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Councile29011https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC3242763biostudies-literatureUnknown6(12)Protein C inhibitor (PCI) is a serpin type of serine protease inhibitor that is found in many tissues and fluids in human, including blood plasma, seminal plasma and urine. This inhibitor displays an unusually broad protease specificity compared with other serpins. Previous studies have shown that the N-glycan(s) and the NH₂-terminus affect some blood-related functions of PCI. In this study, we have for the first time determined the N-glycan profile of seminal plasma PCI, by mass spectrometry. The N-glycan structures differed markedly compared with those of both blood-derived and urinary PCI, providing evidence that the N-glycans of PCI are expressed in a tissue-specific manner. The most abundant structure (m/z 2592.9) had a composition of Fuc₃Hex₅HexNAc₄, consistent with a core fucosylatePloS oneN-glycans of human protein C inhibitor: tissue-specific expression and function.PMC3242763BBF0083091B19088Clark GFEngstrom AGrassi PDell ASun WUbhayasekera WHreinsson JSooriyaarachchi SWanggren KSchedin-Weiss SfalseN-glycans of human protein C inhibitor: tissue-specific expression and function.Protein C inhibitor (PCI) is a serpin type of serine protease inhibitor that is found in many tissues and fluids in human, including blood plasma, seminal plasma and urine. This inhibitor displays an unusually broad protease specificity compared with other serpins. Previous studies have shown that the N-glycan(s) and the NH₂-terminus affect some blood-related functions of PCI. In this study, we have for the first time determined the N-glycan profile of seminal plasma PCI, by mass spectrometry. The N-glycan structures differed markedly compared with those of both blood-derived and urinary PCI, providing evidence that the N-glycans of PCI are expressed in a tissue-specific manner. The most abundant structure (m/z 2592.9) had a composition of Fuc₃Hex₅HexNAc₄, consistent with a core fucosylate2011-01-01T00:00:00Z20112026-04-08T13:59:15.35Z2019-03-26T23:18:18ZS-EPMC32427632220598910.1371/journal.pone.0029011