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J R Reeve

Publications and source records attributed to J R Reeve.

112 records · Page 7Linked to original sources

Structural characterization of calcitonin gene-related peptide purified from rabbit intestine.

Calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) immunoreactive material has been found in extracts of the intestine, however, the structure of intestinal CGRP is not known. Analytical reverse phase HPLC and ion-exchange FPLC revealed one predominant immunoreactive CGRP peak in rabbit intestinal extracts. This material was purified from rabbit intestine by sequential steps of reverse phase HPLC and ion-exchange FPLC. Microsequence and mass spectral analysis of the purified peptide and its chymotryptic fragments were consistent with the structure: GCNTATCVTHRLAGLLSRSGGMVKSNFVPTNVGSEAF-amide. Rabbit intestinal CGRP is identical to human CGRP-II in 35 of 37 amino acid residues. Two amino acid differences were detected at position 1, with Gly in rabbit CGRP instead of Ala in human CGRP-II, and at position 35, with Glu instead of Lys, respectively. Rabbit CGRP differed from human CGRP-I by three additional amino acids at positions 3, 22, and 25. This report shows that a CGRP form which closely resembles human CGRP-II, by means of chemical characterization, is the predominant form in rabbit intestine. Rabbit CGRP is the only CGRP form which has Gly as the amino terminal amino acid. Since the amino terminus of CGRP seems to be important for expression of bioactivity, the biological activity of rabbit CGRP may differ from human, rat and porcine CGRP.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Biotinylation of a bombesin/gastrin-releasing peptide analogue for use as a receptor probe.

The development of a biotinylated bombesin/gastrin-releasing peptide (GRP) for use as a receptor probe is reported. The lysine13 of a GRP-27 was substituted by arginine and lysine was added to the amino terminus. Biotinylation of the N-terminal lysine was performed. The biotinylated peptide was purified by HPLC and characterized by mass spectral analysis. Binding studies with murine Swiss 3T3 fibroblasts, cells known to express bombesin/GRP receptors, yielded a dissociation curve for the biotinylated GRP-27 analogue (biotin-Lysyl[Asp12,Arg13]GRP-27) which was nearly identical to that of native GRP. Using studies of gastrin release from isolated canine G cells, equipotent functional activity of the biotinylated probe and unmodified GRP was demonstrated. Measurements of retained 125I-avidin confirmed that the biotin/avidin interaction could occur once the biotin-peptide complex was bound. Applicability of the probe was demonstrated with fluorescent microscopy using avidin-FITC on Swiss 3T3 fibroblasts. In conclusion, a novel biotinylated bombesin/GRP analogue has been developed which retains the functional characteristics of the native peptide and is a useful probe for receptor studies.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Isolation of the neuropeptide SALMFamide-1 from starfish using a new antiserum.

We have raised antisera in rabbits to a conjugate of thyroglobulin and Lys-Tyr-Ser-Ala-Leu-Met-Phe-NH2 (KYSALMFamide), a synthetic analog of the starfish neuropeptide S1 (Gly-Phe-Asn-Ser-Ala-Leu-Met- Phe-NH2). The sensitivity and specificity of two antisera (BL and SL) for S1 were established by testing the ability of S1 and structurally related peptides (SALMFamide-2 and various FMRFamide-related peptides) to displace iodinated KYSALMFamide from the serum antibodies in an RIA. Both antisera are sensitive to femtomolar amounts of S1. BL is highly specific for S1 but SL is not, since it is also able to detect femtomolar amounts of the FMRFamide-related peptides. We have used the BL antiserum in the RIA to monitor the purification of S1 immunoreactivity from radial nerve cord extracts of both Asterias rubens and Pycnopodia helianthoides. The partial amino acid sequence GFNSALM was obtained from automated Edman degradation sequencing of pure immunoreactive peaks from both species.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

A novel active pentapeptide from chicken brain identified by antibodies to FMRFamide.

The tetrapeptide Phe-Met-Arg-Phe-NH2 (FMRFamide) and peptides structurally related to it, have been isolated from molluscan ganglia. They have widespread actions on both invertebrate and vertebrate tissues and there is increasing evidence that they are an important group of invertebrate peptide neurotransmitters. It is of interest that the primary amino acid sequence of FMRFamide forms the C-terminal tetrapeptide of an enkephalin-like heptapeptide (Met-enkephalin-ArgPhe) isolated from bovine adrenal medulla and striatum. Antisera to FMRFamide have been shown to react in radioimmunoassay and immunohistochemistry with material in the central nervous system of various vertebrate species, but the identity of this material, and in particular its relationship to the opioid heptapeptide, remains uncertain. We have used antibodies specific for the C-terminus of FMRFamide in radioimmunoassays to monitor purification of the material in chicken brain. We describe here the sequence of one of the peptides obtained. It is a biologically active peptide which does not seem to be related to other known vertebrate neuropeptides.

Animals↗