Characterization of a common precursor to corticotropin and beta-lipotropin: identification of beta-lipotropin peptides and their arrangement relative to corticotropin in the precursor synthesized in a cell-free system

Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 1977 Dec;74(12):5300-4. doi: 10.1073/pnas.74.12.5300.

Abstract

Radioactive proteins synthesized in an mRNA-dependent reticulocyte cell-free system under the direction of mRNA from AtT-20/D-16v mouse cells were isolated by specific immunoprecipitation using antiserum to either alpha(1-24) corticotropin or beta-endorphin [beta(61-91) lipotropin]. Each immunoprecipitate was fractionated by sodium dodecyl sulfate/polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and shown to contain only one labeled protein with an apparent molecular weight of 28,500. Tryptic peptide analysis of the Mr 28,500 corticotropin and beta-lipotropin molecules isolated from the gels demonstrated that the two proteins had the same lysine, methionine, and tryptophan peptides. Four tryptic peptides from the cell-free product exhibited the same electrophoretic and chromatographic mobilities as marker tryptic peptides from bovine beta-melanotropin and porcine beta-endorphin. The identification of these peptides was confirmed by amino acid composition studies with a variety of labeled amino acids. The beta-lipotropin tryptic peptides were also shown to be located carboxy terminal to the corticotropin tryptic peptides.

Publication types

  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Adrenocorticotropic Hormone / biosynthesis*
  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Cell Line
  • Cell-Free System
  • Glycoproteins / biosynthesis
  • Molecular Weight
  • Pituitary Gland / metabolism*
  • Polyribosomes / metabolism
  • Protein Precursors / biosynthesis*
  • Reticulocytes / metabolism
  • beta-Lipotropin / biosynthesis*

Substances

  • Glycoproteins
  • Protein Precursors
  • Adrenocorticotropic Hormone
  • beta-Lipotropin