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Biomedical subjects

F S Esch

Publications and source records attributed to F S Esch.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Growth hormone-releasing factor regulates growth hormone mRNA in primary cultures of rat pituitary cells.

A peptide with high intrinsic activity for specifically stimulating the secretion of immunoreactive growth hormone (GH; somatotropin) has been characterized and reproduced by total synthesis. This peptide, human pancreatic growth hormone-releasing factor, 44-amino-acid form (hpGRF1-44-NH2), was isolated from a tumor localized in the pancreas of a patient with acromegaly. We report here the effect of this growth hormone-releasing factor (GRF) on GH release and the GH mRNA levels in monolayer cultures of rat pituitary. The cytoplasmic dot hybridization technique was used to examine the effect of GRF on GH mRNA levels. Incubation of rat pituitary cultures with GRF for 72 hr resulted in a 2- to 2.5-fold increase in GH mRNA levels, and the maximal levels of stimulation were achieved at GRF concentrations as low as 1 fM. GRF did not stimulate prolactin release, nor did it affect specific prolactin mRNA levels in the pituitary cultures. We conclude that GRF is a potent and specific GH secretagogue that also affects specifically GH mRNA levels in normal pituitary cells.

Animals↗

Primary structure of PDC-109, a major protein constituent of bovine seminal plasma.

The two major protein components of bovine seminal plasma, PDC-109 and BSP I, have been purified by gel filtration, partition chromatography and reverse-phase high performance liquid chromatography from an 86% ethanol precipitate of bovine seminal plasma ejaculate. The complete 109-residue amino acid sequence of PDC-109 has been established by automated Edman degradation of the intact peptide as well as its proteolytic digestion and cyanogen bromide cleavage fragments. The 12,774 dalton structure has two structurally similar domains of 38 and 41 amino acids, each containing two disulfide bonds.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Primary structures of three human pancreas peptides with growth hormone-releasing activity.

The primary structures of three polypeptides, possessing high intrinsic growth hormone-releasing activity and derived from a human pancreatic carcinoma which had caused acromegaly, were established by sequence analyses of the intact peptides and their cyanogen bromide digestion fragments with a gas-phase sequenator. The three human pancreas growth hormone-releasing factors contain 44 (hpGRF-44), 40 (hpGRF-40), and 37 (hpGRF-37) amino acids in identical sequences from their NH2 termini. High pressure liquid chromatography of the native peptides and their synthetic replicates showed that hpGRF-37 and hpGRF-40 possess free carboxyl termini while that of hpGRF-44 is amidated. The structure of hpGRF-44 was established as: Tyr-Ala-Asp-Ala-Ile-Phe-Thr-Asn-Ser-Tyr-Arg-Lys-Val-Leu-Gly-Gln-Leu-Ser-Ala Arg-Lys-Leu-Leu-Gln-Asp-Ile-Met-Ser-Arg-Gln-Gln-Gly-Glu-Ser-Asn-Gln-Glu-Arg-Gly Ala-Arg-Ala-Arg-Leu-NH2.

Adenoma, Islet Cell↗

Metorphamide: isolation, structure, and biologic activity of an amidated opioid octapeptide from bovine brain.

Acid acetone extracts of caudate nucleus from bovine brain were found to contain an amidated opioid octapeptide with the following structure: Tyr-Gly-Gly-Phe-Met-Arg-Arg-Val-NH2. The peptide has been named metorphamide. Bovine metorphamide appears to be derived by proteolytic cleavage from proenkephalin, the common precursor to [Met5]enkephalin and [Leu5]enkephalin. The cleavage within the precursor giving rise to the carboxyl terminus of metorphamide occurs at a single arginine residue and is followed by transformation of a carboxyl-terminal glycine into an amide group. Metorphamide was detected in bovine caudate nucleus extracts by radioimmunoassay, and it was purified to homogeneity by gel filtration and reversed-phase high performance liquid chromatography. Amino acid composition analysis and automated Edman degradation in the gas-phase sequencer confirmed the postulated amino acid sequence. Carboxyl-terminal amidation of bovine metorphamide was shown by stability to carboxypeptidase A digestion and full crossreactivity in a radioimmunoassay that required the carboxyl-terminal amide as part of the recognition site. A synthetic replicate of metorphamide as well as several synthetic analogs were tested for opioid activity in several bioassays and binding assays, and metorphamide was found to have a high mu-binding activity. Metorphamide is the only known naturally occurring opioid peptide that has a high mu-binding activity. The kappa-binding activity is approximately equal to 50% that of the mu-binding activity, but delta-binding activity is negligible.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Analysis of the sequence of amino acids surrounding sites of tyrosine phosphorylation.

We have identified the single phosphorylated tyrosine in p60src, the transforming protein of Rous sarcoma virus, as part of the sequence. NH2-Arg-Leu-Ile-Glu-Asp-Asn-Glu-Tyr(P)-Thr-Ala-Arg-COOH. Therefore, this is a sequence that is recognized efficiently by a tyrosine protein kinase in vivo. Phosphorylation of tyrosine in cellular proteins appears to play a role in malignant transformation by four classes of genetically distinct RNA tumor viruses. Phosphorylated tyrosines in several other proteins resemble of the tyrosine in p60src in that they are located 7 residues to the COOH-terminal side of a basic amino acid and either 4 residues to the COOH-terminal side of, or in close proximity to, a glutamic acid residue. Therefore it is possible that these features play a role in the selection of sites of phosphorylation by some tyrosine protein kinases. However, several clear exceptions to this rule exist.

Abelson murine leukemia virus↗

Inactivation of the bovine mitochondrial F1-ATPase with dicyclohexyl[14C]carbodiimide leads to the modification of a specific glutamic acid residue in the beta subunit.

When the bovine mitochondrial F1-ATPase is inactivated with dicyclohexyl[14C]carbodiimide and then gel-filtered, from 2 to 3 g atoms of 14C are incorporated/mol of enzyme. Prior inactivation of the enzyme by the modification of an essential tyrosine residue with 4-chloro-7-nitrobenzofurazan, a reaction that can be reversed by thiols, does not affect the irreversible inactivation of the ATPase by dicyclohexyl[14C]carbodiimide. During the large scale modification of the F1-ATPase by dicyclohexyl[14C]carbodiimide which led to 70% inactivation, 1.9 g atoms of 14C were incorporated/mol of enzyme. Isolation of the alpha, beta, and gamma subunits from this large scale inactivation revealed that the gram atoms of 14C bound per mol of each of the subunits was: alpha, 0.04; beta, 0.56; and gamma, 0.04. The majority of the radioactivity in a cyanogen bromide digest of the 14C-labeled beta subunit was isolated in a fragment that has the following amino acid sequence: Glu-Leu-Ile-Asn-Asn-Val-Ala-Lys-Ala-His-Gly-Gly-Tyr-Ser-Val-Phe-Ala-Gly-Val-Gly -Glu-Arg-Thr-Arg-Glu-Gly-Asn-Asp-Leu-Tyr-Glu*-His-Met; where Glu* represents the N gamma-glutamyl derivative of dicyclohexyl[14C]urea.

Adenosine Triphosphatases↗

Identification of a lysine residue at a nucleotide binding site in the firefly luciferase with p-fluorosulfonyl[14C]benzoyl-5'-adenosine.

Firefly luciferase is 80-90% inactivated within 3 h upon incubation with the adenine nucleotide analogue p-fluorosulfonylbenzoyl-5'-adenosine (FSBA). Although 4 mol of 14C-FSBA/mol of enzyme is irreversibly bound during inactivation, only 1 mol of 14C-FSBA appears to be specifically directed to an adenine nucleotide binding site on the enzyme. The other 3 mol of 14C-FSBA is bound to the protein nonspecifically. The major radioactive peptide in a tryptic digest os labeled luciferase was isolated and shown to have the following amino acid sequence: *Lys-Gly-Glx-Asx-Ser-Lys, where *Lys is the radioactive derivative of the lysine residue that was sulfonylated during the inactivation.

Adenosine↗

Identification of an essential glutamic acid residue in the beta subunit of the adenosine triphosphatase from the thermophilic bacterium PS3.

The TF1-ATPase from the thermophilic bacterium, PS3, is inactivated by dicyclohexylcarbodiimide (DCCD). This inactivation is stimulated by ADP and other specific nucleotides and is inhibited by Mg2+. When the inactivation is carried out with [14C]DCCD, about 2 g atoms of 14C are bound/mol of TF1 when the enzyme is nearly completely inactivated. The isolated subunits from TF1 inactivated with [14C]DCCD contain the following amounts of 14C/mol: alpha, 0.12 g atom; beta, 0.47 g atom; gamma, approximately 0.04 g atom; delta, none; and epsilon, 0.05 g atom. Fractionation of tryptic digests have shown that the 14C bound to the alpha subunit is nonspecifically associated with several peptides, and that the 14C bound to the beta subunit is associated with a single tryptic peptide with the amino acid sequence Ala-Gly-Val-Gly-Glu-Arg, where Glu represents the N-gamma-glutamyl derivative of dicyclohexyl[14C]urea.

Adenosine Diphosphate↗

Amino-terminal sequence analysis of alphavirus polypeptides.

The single late 26S mRNA of Semliki Forest virus (SFV) directs the synthesis of the four viral structural proteins, C, E3, E2, and E1, and the recently described nonstructural protein, 6K. We report here partial NH2-terminal amino acid sequences of the SFV polypeptides E3 and 6K and of p62, the precursor to E3 and E2. In addition, were have determined a partial NH2-terminal sequence of the Sindbis virus homolog of 6K, the 4.2K protein. p62 and E3 of SFV have identical NH2-terminal amino acid sequences. Comparison of the partial NH2-terminal sequences of 6K of SFV and 4.2K of Sindbis virus with the deduced amino acid sequence encoded by the 26S mRNA of each virus reveals that the genes for these peptides are located in each case between those for E2 and E1. The order of the genes on the 26S mRNA of the alphaviruses is therefore 5'-C-E3-E2-6K-E1-3'. We discuss two mechanisms by which the nascent viral glycoproteins may be inserted into the membrane of the endoplasmic reticulum.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Isolation and sequence of the vitamin K-dependent protein from human bone. Undercarboxylation of the first glutamic acid residue.

The gamma-carboxyglutamate-containing protein from human bone has been isolated from proteins released upon demineralization of bone by using a combination of gel filtration and immunoadsorption onto a column of immobilized antibody. The sequence of the protein has been determined by automatic sequence analysis of the whole protein and of peptides isolated from tryptic and Staphylococcus aureus protease digests. The protein consists of 49 amino acids in a single polypeptide chain, contains 2 residues of gamma-carboxyglutamic acid, and a single disulfide bond. There are 4 translational substitutions between the human and calf bone proteins and 23 translational substitutions between the human and swordfish bone proteins. Glu-17 was found to be only 9% gamma-carboxylated, while sequence positions 21 and 24 are fully gamma-carboxylated. The identification of glutamic acid at position 17 represents the first instance where a partially gamma-carboxylated glutamate has been found in a sequence position which is to the NH2-terminal side of a gamma-carboxyglutamate residue. The possible significance of this observation is discussed.

1-Carboxyglutamic Acid↗

Vesicular stomatitis virus glycoprotein is anchored in the viral membrane by a hydrophobic domain near the COOH terminus.

We have determined the COOH-terminal and NH(2)-terminal amino acid sequences of the vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) glycoprotein (G). A sequence of 122 COOH-terminal amino acids was deduced from the complete sequence of a cloned DNA insert carrying 470 nucleotides derived from the 3' end of the G mRNA. Evidence presented indicates that this portion of the polypeptide includes the domains of G that reside inside the virion and span the lipid bilayer of the virion. This seems clear because a partial amino acid sequence of a fragment of G that remains associated with the membrane of the virion after exhaustive proteolytic digestions can be located unambiguously in the predicted sequence. This predicted sequence contains an uninterrupted hydrophobic domain beginning 49 amino acids and ending 30 amino acids from the COOH terminus. This region presumably spans the lipid bilayer. The COOH-terminal portion of 29 amino acids contains a high proportion of basic residues and resides inside the virion. The COOH-terminal portion of the VSV G protein therefore resembles in structure that of glycophorin, an erythrocyte membrane protein well characterized previously. The configuration of G in the viral membrane demonstrated here is probably similar for other viral glycoproteins, although this has not been tested as directly in any other case. From the sequence of a DNA primer extended on the RNA genome from the adjacent M protein gene into the G protein gene, we have deduced an NH(2)-terminal G protein sequence of 53 amino acids, including the leader sequence of 16 amino acids. Our sequence confirms, extends, and corrects two partial amino acid sequences reported for this region previously.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

On the subunit stoichiometry of the F1-ATPase and the sites in it that react specifically with p-fluorosulfonylbenzoyl-5'-adenosine.

During the inactivation of the nucleotide-free F1-ATPase at pH 7.0, by p-fluorosulfonyl[14C]benzoyl-5'-adenosine ([14C]FSBA) in the presence of 20% glycerol, about 4.5 g atoms of 14C are incorporated/350,000 g of enzyme. Isolation of the subunits has shown: (a) over 90% of the incorporated label is associated with the alpha and beta subunits; (b) the amount of label incorporated into the alpha subunit is about 0.5 g atoms/mol which is nonspecifically associated with a number of tyrosine and lysine residues; (c) the amount of radioactivity incorporated into the beta subunit is about 0.9 g atoms/mol which correlates with the degree of inactivation of the enzyme and resides on a single tyrosine residue; (d) up to 2.2 mol of alpha subunit have been isolated from each mole of inactivated enzyme; and (e) about 2 mol of beta subunit have been isolated from each mole of inactivated enzyme. These results account for the incorporation of 4.5 g atoms of 14C which are incorporated/mol of ATPase during inactivation if there are three copies each of the alpha and beta subunit present in the enzyme. It has also been shown that 4-chloro-7-nitrobenzofurazan (NBD-Cl) and FSBA react with different tyrosine residues when they inactivate the ATPase. In addition, it has been shown that the ATPase inactivated with FSBA retains the capacity to bind up to 2.2 mol of [14C]ADP/350,000 g of enzyme.

Adenosine↗

Identification of a tyrosine residue at a nucleotide binding site in the beta subunit of the mitochondrial ATPase with p-fluorosulfonyl[14C]-benzoyl-5'-adenosine.

The mitochondrial F1-ATPase is irreversibly inactivated by the adenine nucleotide analogue, p-fluorosulfonylbenzoyl-5'-adenosine. This inactivation is partly prevented by the presence of bound adenine nucleotides. Inactivations of the ATPase with p-fluorosulfonyl[14C]benzoyl-5'-adenosine were most efficiently accomplished with the nucleotide-free enzyme at pH 7.0, in a buffer containing 20% glycerol. Under these conditions, 4.2 g atoms of 14C are incorporated per 350,000 g of enzyme when the ATPase is inactivated by 90% by its reaction with 2 mM p-fluorosulfonyl[14C]benzoyl-5'-adenosine. Isolation of the component polypeptide chains of the labeled ATPase showed that all of the radioactivity was associated with the two largest subunits. The isolated alpha subunit contained 0.45 g atom of 14C/mol and the isolated beta subunit contained 0.88 g atom of 14C/mol. Hence, the inactivation can be correlated with the incorporation of 14C into the beta subunit. This suggests that the hydrolytic site of the enzyme resides on this subunit. The majority of the radioactivity in a tryptic digest of labeled beta subunit is contained ina tryptic peptide that has the following amino acid sequence: Ile-Met-Asp-Pro-Asn-Ile-Val-Gly-Ser-Glu-His-Tyr-Asp-Val-Ala-Arg, where Tyr is the radioactive derivative of the tyrosine residue that was sulfonylated during the inactivation.

Adenosine↗