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 catalyzes the oxidative deamination of d-aspartate using oxygen as electron acceptor. d-aspartate and DASPO are supposed to be involved in the regulation of the central nervous system and in the animal development. This manuscript describes for the first time the presence of DASPO in Xenopus laevis fertilized eggs and embryos and suggests a different tissue distribution of this enzyme in adult male and female animals. In particular, by means of 2D-electrophoresis and affinity purified specific anti-DASPO antibodies, the enzyme was localized in fertilized eggs of X. laevis and in ovaries of adult animals 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 Mr of 30 kDa and pI of 8.1.