Progenitor Sequence Research Articles

Repetitive sequences in the genome of Anemone blanda: identification of tandem arrays and of dispersed repeats.

A tandemly repetitive sequence family (AbS1) and a repetitive sequence (Hd) forming part of a larger dispersed element (dorf-1) of Anemone blanda were characterised. The AbS1 satellite sequence family is located in all 4',6-diamidino-2-phenylindole (DAPI) positive intercalary heterochromatic bands and in the DAPI positive heterochromatic terminal region of chromosome 3, while the dispersed Hd homologous sequences are preferentially associated with euchromatic chromosome regions. The major component of the AbS1 satellite is AbS1-H1 with a basic repeat unit of 1640 bp; a minor fraction (AbS1-H5) consists of 320 bp units. A subsection of the AbS1-H1 repeat unit exhibits homologies to the 25S rRNA gene of flowering plants suggesting that the 1.64 kb satellite was generated by amplification of a precursor satellite and/or single copy sequence together with an rDNA fragment. The rDNA homologous region is considered to evolve at a rate similar to pseudogenes and thus the age of this satellite DNA fraction can be roughly estimated as about 27 million years. The dispersed repeated sequence Hd (about 1300 bp) is associated with the 8 kb element dorf-1. A. blanda dorf-1 constitutes about 0.2% of the genome (3 x 10(4) copies), is bounded by identical long terminal repeats, and exhibits partial homology to the Lilium gypsy-type element del1, but has yet to be confirmed as a retrotransposon. In contrast to the AbS1 satellite sequence family, Hd homologous sequences were found not only in A. apennina, the closest relative of A. blanda, but also in A. nemorosa and A. ranunculoides indicating that a progenitor sequence of dorf-1 was present in a common ancestor before speciation occurred.

Identification of the thyrotropin-releasing hormone-prohormone and its posttranslational processing in a transfected AtT20 tumoral cell line.

By using an AtT20 cell line transfected with complementary DNA for preproTRH, we have identified the proTRH polyeptide precursor [26 kilodaltons (kDa)] and shown that this molecule gives rise to the proTRH derived sequences as determined by pulse-chase and trypsinization studies. The predicted proTRH precursor composed of 231 amino acids with 5 copies of a TRH progenitor sequence (Gln-His-Pro-Gly) and 7 other cryptic peptides was demonstrated by: 1) Western Blot analysis of an AtT20 cell extract with anti-pCC10 antibodies (an antibody that recognizes the intact prohormone as well as some intermediate products of processing); 2) Immunoprecipitation of the radiolabelled 26 kDa protein with anti-pCC10 followed by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) analysis; 3) Gel filtration chromatography of the radiolabeled 26 kDa extracted from SDS-PAGE. 4) RIA with anti-pCC10 antiserum against peptides extracted from adult rat hypothalamus and olfactory lobe after SDS-PAGE. 5) Trypsinization of the proTRH precursor which generated the proTRH cryptic peptides preproTRH25-50 (pYE27) and preproTRH53-74 (pFT22). These moieties were also produced during trypsinization of intermediate products of processing. By means of pulse-chase studies, the 26 kDa polypeptide was shown to be the biosynthetic precursor to all the proTRH derived cryptic peptides. Cleavage at two positions in the center of the molecule (Lys107-Arg108 and Lys152-Arg153) generated two moieties of 16.5 and 15 kDa. The 15 kDa N-terminal fragment is later cleaved to a 6 kDa peptide that includes the proTRH derived peptides, pYE27, pFT22, and pEH24. The carboxy-terminal 16.5 kDa fragment of the prohormone is processed to a 9.6 kDa fragment which contains the proTRH derived peptide pST10 (preproTRH160-169) and a fragment of 5.4 kDa that may be the C-terminal peptide preproTRH208-255 recognized by antisera pAC12 and pYE17. In further processing, the 9.6 kDa molecule is cleaved to produce a 5.4 kDa peptide from either sequences 115-169 or 160-199.

Different posttranslational processing of human preprothyrotropin-releasing hormone in the human placenta and hypothalamus.

We scrutinized the possible existence of human prepro-THR messenger RNA (mRNA) and of its posttranslational processing products in the human placenta. Human placental mRNA of preproTRH was found to have a single species identical to that predicted from the hypothalamic mRNA, and could be reverse transcribed to complementary DNA (cDNA) encoding preproTRH in a size similar to the hypothalamic counterpart by means of reverse-transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction. Five different intervening peptides, designated human TRH-associated peptide (hTAP) [hTAP-1, preproTRH(90-111); hTAP-2, preproTRH(120-132); hTAP-3, preproTRH(141-149); hTAP-4, preproTRH(158-183); hTAP-5, preproTRH(192-224)], and a TRH precursor comprising the TRH progenitor sequence (octa-TRH) were synthesized, and six different antisera raised against individual peptides were used to develop specific RIA systems. Significant concentrations of hTAP-5 and octa-TRH-like immunoreactivities were quantitated in acid extracts of human placentae. In human hypothalamic extracts, immunoreactivities of hTAP-3, hTAP-4, hTAP-5, and octa-TRH, were apparently detected. Chromotographic analysis showed a single peak corresponding to each authentic peptide in RIA systems of hTAPs detected. In placentae, a single peak of octa-TRH-like substance was observed, and two octa-TRH-like substances with different molecular weights detected in hypothalami. The present data indicate that unique posttranslational processing steps of human preproTRH differ in human placentae and hypothalami, and that the human tissues involve profound amounts of several preproTRH-related peptides which do not comprise the TRH progenitor sequence.

ω-Conotoxin- and nifedipine-insensitive voltage-operated calcium channels mediate K +-induced release of pro-thyrotropin-releasing hormone-connecting peptides Ps4 and Ps5 from perifused rat hypothalamic slices

The rat thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) precursor (prepro-TRH) contains five copies of the TRH progenitor sequence linked together by intervening sequences. Recently, we have shown that the connecting peptides prepro-TRH-(160–169) (Ps4) and prepro-TRH-(178–199) (Ps5) are released from rat hypothalamic neurones in response to elevated potassium concentrations, in a calcium-dependent manner. In the present study, the role of voltage-operated calcium channels in potassium-induced release of Ps4 and Ps5 was investigated, using a perifusion system for rat hypothalamic slices. The release of Ps4 and Ps5 stimulated by potassium (70 mM) was blocked by the inorganic ions Co 2+ (2.6 mM) and Ni 2+ (5 mM). In contrast, the stimulatory effect of KCl was insensitive to Cd 2+ (100 μM). The dihydropyridine antagonist nifedipine (10 μM) had no effect on K +-evoked release of Ps4 and Ps5. Furthermore, the response to KCl was not affected by nifedipine (10 μM) in combination with diltiazem (1 μM), a benzothiazepine which increases the affinity of dihydropyridine antagonists for their receptor. The dihydropyridine agonist BAY K 8644, at concentrations as high as 1 mM, did not stimulate the basal secretion of Ps4 and Ps5. In addition, BAY K 8644 had no potentiating effect on K +-induced release of Ps4 and Ps5. The marine cone snail toxin ω-conotoxin, a blocker of both L- and N-type calcium channels had no effect on the release of Ps4 and Ps5 stimulated by potassium. Similarly, the ω-conopeptide SNX-111, a selective blocker of N-type calcium channels, did not inhibit the stimulatory effect of potassium. The release of Ps4 and Ps5 evoked by high K + was insensitive to the non-selective calcium channel blocker verapamil (20 μM). Amiloride (1 μM), a putative blocker of T-type calcium channels, did not affect KCl-induced secretion of the two connecting peptides. Taken together, these results indicate that two connecting peptides derived from the pro-TRH, Ps4 and Ps5, are released by K +-induced depolarization through activation of voltage-sensitive calcium channels. The calcium channels appear to have a pharmacological profile different from that of L- and N-type channels. Although, their insensitivity to low Cd 2+ concentrations and sensitivity to Ni 2+ ions would support the involvement of T-type calcium channels, the lack of effect of amiloride suggests that they belong to a yet undefined class of calcium channels.

Cloning of the mouse hypothalamic preprothyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) cDNA and tissue distribution of its mRNA

A complementary DNA (cDNA) for mouse hypothalamic preprothyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) was isolated and characterized using three different combinations of the polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Using this cDNA, we examined the tissue distribution of expression of the mouse preproTRH gene and evaluated the evolutionary basis of the preproTRH gene by comparison of the cloned sequence with sequences of preproTRH in other species. The deduced protein sequence of the mouse preproTRH contained 256 amino acids featured by possessing an insertion of one amino acid as compared with that of rat preproTRH. Five repetitive copies of the TRH progenitor sequence (Lys-Arg-Gln-His-Pro-Gly-Arg/Lys-Arg) were found in the mouse preproTRH. Northern blot analysis showed an apparent single band of hypothalamic mRNA of approximately 1600 base pairs in length. The homology of the coding region of the mouse preproTRH with the rat and human preproTRH is 92 and 65% at the nucleic acid level, respectively, and 88 and 56% at the amino acid level, respectively. By means of the PCR procedure, a characteristic expression of the preproTRH mRNA was observed solely in the mouse hypothalamus and testis. Moreover, it was noteworthy to find that the degree of homology to the region containing the sixth TRH-coding sequence of the human preproTRH was higher in the mouse preproTRH than the rat counterpart. These data support the evidence that (1) TRH and its related peptides may be produced in situ in the testis as well as the hypothalamus, and (2) the sixth TRH-coding region in the human preproTRH would be the result of evolutionary changes which occurred between the fifth TRH coding region and the C-terminus of the preproTRH during development of the preproTRH gene.

Immunoreactive thyroliberin (TRH) precursor forms in human hypothalamus and anterior pituitary tissues

Immunoreactive (IR) proTRH forms were characterized in human hypothalamic tissue with two antisera raised against a hepta- and a decapeptide containing the TRH progenitor sequence (-Gln-His-Pro-Gly-). A similar study was performed in human normal and adenomatous anterior pituitaries, tissues in which TRH synthesis has been previously suggested. IR-proTRH was found in all the samples ranging from 42–775 fmol/mg proteins. Size exclusion chromatography identified a major 25–35 kDa form and a minor 4–8 kDa form. The existence of the major form was confirmed by immunoblotting. The results suggest that both human hypothalamic and normal or adenomatous anterior pituitary tissues synthesize similar IR-proTRH forms.

Fusion of a free left Alu monomer and a free right Alu monometer at the origin of the Alu family in the primate genomes

In the primate genome, a typical Alu element corresponds to a dimeric structure composed of two different but related monomeric sequences arranged in tandem. However, the analysis of primate sequences found in GenBank reveals the presence of free left and free right Alu elements. Here, we report the statistical study of those monomeric elements. We found that only a small fraction of them results from a deletion of a dimeric Alu sequence. The majority derives from the amplification of monomeric progenitor sequences and constitutes two families of monomeric elements: a family of free left Alu monomers that is composed of two subfamilies and a small family of free right Alu monomers. Both families predated the dimeric Alu elements, and a phylogenetic analysis strongly suggests that the first progenitor of the dimeric Alu family arose through the fusion of a free left monomer with a free right monomer.

Origin of the Alu family: a family of Alu-like monomers gave birth to the left and the right arms of the Alu elements.

The Alu dimeric elements are a common feature of the primate genomes, where they constitute a family of related sequences (1). The identification of a free left Alu monomer (FLAM) family plus a free right Alu monomer (FRAM) family suggests that the dimeric structure results from the fusion of a FLAM sequence with a FRAM sequence (2). Here, we describe a very old Alu-like monomeric family, referred to as FAM for fossil Alu monomer. This family arose from a 7SL RNA sequence and gave birth to the FLAM and FRAM families. From the results obtained, the evolution of the Alu family can be subdivided into two phases. The first phase, which involves only monomeric elements, is characterized by deep remodelling of the progenitor sequences and ends with the appearance of the first Alu dimeric element through the fusion of a FLAM and a FRAM element. The second phase, still in progress, starts with the first Alu dimeric element. This phase is characterized by the stabilization of the progenitor sequences.

Domains in microbial beta-1, 4-glycanases: sequence conservation, function, and enzyme families

Several types of domain occur in beta-1, 4-glycanases. The best characterized of these are the catalytic domains and the cellulose-binding domains. The domains may be joined by linker sequences rich in proline or hydroxyamino acids or both. Some of the enzymes contain repeated sequences up to 150 amino acids in length. The enzymes can be grouped into families on the basis of sequence similarities between the catalytic domains. There are sequence similarities between the cellulose-binding domains, of which two types have been identified, and also between some domains of unknown function. The beta-1, 4-glycanases appear to have arisen by the shuffling of a relatively small number of progenitor sequences.

Release of pro-thyrotropin-releasing hormone connecting peptides PS4 and PS5 from perifused rat hypothalamic slices

Thyrotropin-releasing hormone prohormone contains five copies of the thyrotropin-releasing hormone progenitor sequence Gln-His-Pro-Gly, each flanked by pairs of basic amino acids and separated by intervening sequences (connecting peptides). Using a perifusion system for rat hypothalamic slices, we have studied the ionic mechanisms underlying the release of two connecting peptides originating from the thyrotropin-releasing hormone precursor: prepro-thyrotropin-releasing hormone-(160–169) (Ps4) and prepro-thyrotropin-releasing hormone-(178–199) (Ps5). Quantification of these two peptides in the effluent fluid was performed using sensitive and highly specific radioimmunoassay procedures. Reverse phase high performance liquid chromatography analysis of the effluent perifusate showed that released peptides co-eluted with synthetic Ps4 and Ps5. The secretion of Ps4 and Ps5 was stimulated by depolarizing agents such as (i) high potassium concentrations, (ii) ouabain, an Na +/ K +-ATPase inhibitor, and (iii) veratridine, a stimulator of voltage-operated Na + channels. The response to potassium (70 mM) was not affected by the specific Na + channel blocker tetrodotoxin. The K + channel blocker tetraethylammonium did not modify K +-evoked release of Ps4 and Ps5. These data suggest that voltage-operated Na + channels are not involved in the stimulatory effect of high K + on the release of Ps4 and Ps5. The lack of effect of picrotoxin, a Cl − channel blocker, on the secretion of the connecting peptides indicates that chloride ions play a minor role in the release process.In contrast, deprivation of Ca 2+ in the perifusion medium suppressed K +-evoked release of the two peptides, indicating that voltage-operated Ca 2+ channels are implicated in the release process. Taken together, the present results show that non-thyrotropin-releasing hormone peptides originating from the thyrotropin-releasing hormone precursor are secreted by mediobasal hypothalamic fragments. The release of these peptides is stimulated by depolarization through a calcium-dependent process. These data indicate that Ps4 and Ps5 may be released at the level of the median eminence into the portal circulation, suggesting that these peptides may play a role in the control of anterior pituitary cells.

Domains in microbial beta-1, 4-glycanases: sequence conservation, function, and enzyme families.

Several types of domain occur in beta-1, 4-glycanases. The best characterized of these are the catalytic domains and the cellulose-binding domains. The domains may be joined by linker sequences rich in proline or hydroxyamino acids or both. Some of the enzymes contain repeated sequences up to 150 amino acids in length. The enzymes can be grouped into families on the basis of sequence similarities between the catalytic domains. There are sequence similarities between the cellulose-binding domains, of which two types have been identified, and also between some domains of unknown function. The beta-1, 4-glycanases appear to have arisen by the shuffling of a relatively small number of progenitor sequences.

Muller's Ratchet and the evolution of supernumerary chromosomes

Supernumerary chromosomes arise from portions of the normal chromosome complement through nondisjunction, fragmentation, or other mechanisms. Once present in the genome, they are subject to virtually the same genetic conditions that affect the evolutionary degeneration of heteromorphic sex chromosomes. Y or W chromosomes occur only in the presence of X or Z chromosomes, respectively, just as supernumeraries never occur except in the presence of the complete regular karyotype containing their progenitor sequences. Thus, mechanisms that can account for the evolution of sex-chromosome heteromorphism can also be invoked to explain the degeneration process of supernumerary chromosomes after their origination. Incipient supernumeraries initially have genes identical with those on progenitor chromosomes. This frees them from the evolutionary constraint of carrying nonduplicated genetic information, just as in Y and W chromosomes during early stages of sex-chromosome differentiation. The degeneration of supernumerary chromosomes may thus proceed via the mechanism of Muller's Ratchet. This hypothesis predicts that supernumerary chromosomes should lose functional loci, lose sequence homology with the regular genome, and gain heterochromatin over time, resulting in multiple heteromorphic forms of degenerate supernumeraries within and between populations, as is commonly observed.Key words: supernumerary chromosomes, B chromosomes, evolution, origin, Muller's Ratchet.

Distribution of Thyrotropin-Releasing Hormone (TRH) and Precursor Pep tide (TRH-Gly) in Adult Rat Tissues

TRH (pGlu-His-Pro-NH2) arises from the post-translational processing of a larger precursor peptide containing multiple copies of the TRH progenitor sequence, Gln-His-Pro-Gly. Concentrations of TRH and its precursor peptide (TRH-Gly) were determined in serum and a variety of tissues of the rat using specific RIA systems. TRH and TRH-Gly immunoreactivities were detectable in almost all tissues studied. TRH was distributed mainly in neural tissues, with the highest mean concentration (126 pg/mg tissue) in hypothalamus. In extra-neural tissues, mean TRH levels ranged from 0.6-4.8 pg/mg tissue; the mean serum concentration was 12.4 pg/ml. In contrast to the distribution of TRH, relatively higher mean TRH-Gly concentrations were observed in serum (76.5 pg/ml) and in extraneural tissues, including prostate (83.3 pg/mg tissue), spleen (19.0 pg/mg), adrenal (16.2 pg/mg), kidney (13.3 pg/mg), and gastrointestinal tract (6.3-19.8 pg/mg). Among brain tissues, the TRH-Gly concentration was highest in pituitary gland (13.1 pg/mg). The mean ratio of TRH-Gly/TRH concentrations was less than 1 in neural tissues and pancreas. The lowest ratio (0.04) was observed in hypothalamus, and the highest ratio (66) in prostate gland. Assuming that tissue TRH-Gly levels reflect TRH synthesis, these results suggest that 1) the processing of TRH-Gly to TRH varies among tissues, 2) TRH-Gly to TRH conversion occurs most efficiently in neural tissues, and 3) TRH-Gly to TRH conversion may be a rate-limiting step in TRH biosynthesis.

Processing of Thyrotropin-Releasing Hormone (TRH) Prohormone in the Rat Olfactory Bulb Generates Novel TRH-Related Peptides*

Based on the deduced amino acid sequence of rat TRH prohormone (pro-TRH), proteolytic processing of this polyprotein precursor is expected to produce, beside TRH, several other novel peptides. These peptides should correspond to connecting segments flanking the repeated TRH progenitor sequence and to various C- and/or N-terminally extended forms of TRH. The profile of the endogenous products of the TRH system was studied in rat brain using multiple RIAs coupled to molecular sieve filtration and HPLC separations. In extracts from the rat hypothalamus, TRH and two pro-TRH-connecting peptides, prepro-TRH-(160-169) and prepro-TRH-(178-199) were detected in molar ratios corresponding to those expected for a nearly complete processing of the prohormone molecule. In the olfactory bulb, pro-TRH is processed differently, since peptides containing TRH at their N-termini, [pGlu172] prepro-TRH-(172-199) and [pGlu154]prepro-TRH-(154-169), were found to be major end products along with prepro-TRH-(160-169) and prepro-TRH-(178-199). The dissimilarity in tissue content suggests that differential processing of TRH precursor by various enzymatic pathways may act as a regulating mechanism for TRH and TRH-related activities. The cellular localization of C-terminally extended forms of TRH in rat olfactory bulb was examined by the indirect immunoperoxidase method, using antisera directed against prepro-TRH-(160-169) and pre-pro-TRH-(178-199). Cell bodies and nerve fibers were detected in the glomerular and external plexiform layers of the main olfactory bulb. The presence of extended forms of TRH in interneurons and middle tufted cells of the main olfactory bulb suggests that in light of the recent biological properties described for prepro-TRH-(160-169), these peptides may act as neuromodulators for olfactory epithelium inputs or neurotransmitters within more rostrally located olfactory areas in the forebrain.

Processing of thyrotropin-releasing hormone prohormone (pro-TRH) generates a biologically active peptide, prepro-TRH-(160-169), which regulates TRH-induced thyrotropin secretion.

Rat thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) prohormone contains five copies of the TRH progenitor sequence Gln-His-Pro-Gly linked together by connecting sequences whose biological activity is unknown. Both the predicted connecting peptide prepro-TRH-(160-169) (Ps4) and TRH are predominant storage forms of TRH precursor-related peptides in the hypothalamus. To determine whether Ps4 is co-released with TRH, rat median eminence slices were perifused in vitro. Infusion of depolarizing concentrations of KCl induced stimulation of release of Ps4- and TRH-like immunoreactivity. The possible effect of Ps4 on thyrotropin release was investigated in vitro using quartered anterior pituitaries. Infusion of Ps4 alone had no effect on thyrotropin secretion but potentiated TRH-induced thyrotropin release in a dose-dependent manner. In addition, the occurrence of specific binding sites for 125I-labeled Tyr-Ps4 in the distal lobe of the pituitary was demonstrated by binding analysis and autoradiographic localization. These findings indicate that these two peptides that arise from a single multifunctional precursor, the TRH prohormone, act in a coordinate manner on the same target cells to promote hormonal secretion. These data suggest that differential processing of the TRH prohormone may have the potential to modulate the biological activity of TRH.

Thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) precursor processing: Characterization of mature TRH and non-TRH peptides synthesized by transfected mammalian cells

Prepro-thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) contains five TRH progenitor sequences and at least six other potential peptides (Lechan, R. M., Wu, P., Jackson, I. M. D., Wolf, H., Cooperman, S., Mandel, G., and Goodman, R. H. (1986a) Science 231, 159-161). Previous studies using radioimmunoassays developed against discrete regions of prepro-TRH have demonstrated that several of the potential peptides are present in rat brain and pancreas (Wu, P., Lechan, R. M., and Jackson, I. M. D. (1987) Endocrinology 121, 108-115; Wu, P. and Jackson, I. M. D. (1988a) Brain Res. 456, 22-28; Wu, P., and Jackson, I. M. D. (1988b) Regul. Pept. 22, 347-360). However, the low level of peptides present in intact tissues has made isolation of the peptides difficult. CA77 cells, a medullary thyroid carcinoma cell line, also express prepro-TRH and display processing similar to that found in tissues. However, peptide content in this tumor cell line is enhanced only 3-fold compared with normal tissues (Sevarino, K. A., Wu, P., Jackson, I. M. D., Roos, B. A., Mandel, G., and Goodman, R. H. (1988) J. Biol. Chem. 263, 620-623). To achieve higher levels of expression for facilitating peptide sequencing studies and to see if alternate processing of prepro-TRH could be detected in different cell types, we transfected into 3T3, GH4, AtT20, and RIN 5F cells a cDNA vector under control of the cytomegalovirus immediate-early promoter. 3T3 and GH4 cells failed to process prepro-TRH beyond cleavage of the signal sequence. Both AtT20 and RIN 5F cells efficiently cleaved the precursor at dibasic sites to generate mature TRH and the non-TRH peptides previously identified in vivo. Peptide content was up to 30 times greater than in hypothalamic extracts and 10 times greater than in CA77 cells. Secretion experiments with transfected AtT20 cells demonstrated that both mature TRH and the non-TRH peptides were secreted via a regulated secretory pathway similar to that utilized by endogenously synthesized peptides. We isolated several of the non-TRH peptides synthesized by transfected AtT20 cells and characterized these peptides by sequential Edman degradation. These studies identified the signal sequence cleavage site and determined that the non-TRH peptides are generated by cleavage at the dibasic sites flanking the five TRH progenitor sequences. Further, we determined that processing occurs at the Arg51-Arg52 site located in the amino-terminal portion of the precursor, the only dibasic site not flanking a TRH progenitor sequence.

Isolation of dermenkephalin from amphibian skin, a high-affinity (δ-selective opioid heptapeptide containing a D-amino acid residue

The predicted amino acid sequence of the biosynthetic precursor of dermorphin, a highly potent and nearly specific μ-opioid peptide from amphibian skin, contains four repeats of the dermorphin progenitor sequence and one single copy of a different heptapeptide sequence. We have developed a specific enzyme immunoassay and used synthetic peptides to detect and purify the new predicted heptapeptide 2.4 μg/g dry skin) from the skin of the Phyllomedusa sauvagei frog from which dermorphin was originally isolated. The identity of the novel pro-dermorphin related peptide, Tyr-D-Met-Phe-His-Leu-Met-Asp-NH 2, was established by co-chromatography with synthetic peptides on reverse-phase HPLC, immunological analysis, gas-phase sequencing, mass spectrometry and by pharmacological assays. Opioid-binding assays in vitro demonstrated that both the natural and synthetic heptapeptides displayed exceptionally high selectivity and affinity towards the δ-opioid receptors. Because of its origin and its δ-opioid (enkephalin) activity and specificity, this novel D-amino acid containing peptide is named dermenkephalin.

Processing of Thyrotropin-Releasing Hormone Prohormone (Pro-TRH) in the Adult Rat Pancreas: Identification and Localization of Pro-TRH-Related Peptides in β- Cells of Pancreatic Islets*

Rat TRH prohormone (pro-TRH) contains five separate copies of the TRH progenitor sequence, Gln-His-Pro-Gly. All five sequences are flanked by paired basic amino acid cleavage sites and linked together by connecting sequences. RIAs to synthetic TRH and prepro-TRH-(178-199) were used to investigate pro-TRH processing in the endocrine pancreas of adult rats. HPLC analysis of adult rat pancreatic extracts showed the presence of a major immunoreactive peptide eluting at the position of prepro-TRH-(178-199). An additional peak coeluting with [less than Glu172]prepro-TRH-(172-199) (less than Glu = pyroglutamyl) revealed the presence of a C-terminally extended form of TRH. Quantification of TRH in pancreatic extracts indicated the presence of 22 mol TRH/mol prepro-TRH-(178-199) and 17 mol TRH/mol [less than Glu172]prepro-TRH-(172-199). Treatment of rats with streptozotocin markedly reduced the pancreatic content of both immunoreactive TRH (-84%) and immunoreactive prepro-TRH-(178-199) (-62%). Light microscopic immunocytochemistry showed that prepro-TRH-(178-199)-like immunoreactivity was exclusively located within insulin-containing cells of the pancreatic islets. At the electron microscopic level, prepro-TRH-(178-199) immunoreactivity appeared to be concentrated in secretory granules. The present study demonstrates that processing of pro-TRH generates both non-TRH- and TRH-related peptides in the adult rat pancreas. Our data also indicate that beta-cells of the endocrine pancreas are the major source of TRH- and pro-TRH-derived peptides.

SECTION I. BIOSYNTHESIS OF TRH: Controversies in TRH Biosynthesis and Strategies towards the Identification of a TRH Precursor

It is now clear that TRH is derived from posttranslational processing of a precursor polyprotein like other hypothalamic releasing factors and not by a soluble nonribosomal enzymatic mechanism. With an oligonucleotide probe directed against a presumptive TRH progenitor sequence, a frog skin cDNA library was screened and a clone identified coding for a peptide of 123 amino acids containing four copies of the TRH progenitor sequence (Gln-His-Pro-Gly) flanked by paired basic amino acid residues. The amphibian probe did not, however, hybridize with mammalian hypothalamus. To identify the TRH precursor in the rat hypothalamus, an antiserum was raised against the synthetic decapeptide sequence, Cys-Lys-Arg-Gln-His-Pro-Gly-Lys-Arg-Cys. It was hypothesized that the N- and C-terminal cysteines would cyclize, permitting an antibody to be generated against the midregion of the molecule and its extended counterpart sequences in nature pro-TRH. Such an antiserum was generated that recognized the intact or partially processed precursor immunohistochemically and was used to identify the prepro-TRH cDNA on screening of a rat hypothalamic lambda gt11 expression library. The rat precursor is similar to the amphibian only insofar as multiple copies of the TRH sequence are encoded in each. Thus, the resolution of the contentious question of the mode of TRH biosynthesis in the rat hypothalamus required the development of a novel antiserum, screening by immunocytochemistry and the application of modern molecular biological techniques.

Identification, Characterization, and Localization of Thyrotropin-Releasing Hormone Precursor Peptides in Perinatal Rat Pancreas

The sequence of rat hypothalamic prepro TRH, deduced from its complementary DNA, contains five TRH progenitor sequences and six cryptic sequences separated by paired basic amino acid residues. We have utilised antisera against two synthetic peptides corresponding to sequences within proTRH, [Tyr53] preproTRH (53-74), part of the amino terminal leader sequence of proTRH and [Cys 74,83] preproTRH-(75-82), representing a TRH progenitor sequence flanked by cysteine residues (pCC10) in radioimmunoassays (RIA) to identify and chromatographically characterize proTRH derived peptides in extracts of rat perinatal pancreas and to localize these peptides immunohistochemically. Two forms of immunoreactive pYT22 (ipYT22) were observed, similar in size to ipYT22 seen in extracts of adult rat brain. By RIA immunoreactive pCC10 was detectable in neonatal but not fetal pancreas. However, immunohistochemical double staining of both fetal and neonatal rat pancreas colocalized both ipYT22 and ipCC10 with immunoreactive insulin in the B-cell of the developing Islets of Langerhans. These findings indicate that the B-cell of the perinatal pancreas synthesizes TRH from a prohormone encoded by a mRNA similar to that present in adult rat hypothalamus.