Developmental expression of otoconin-22 in the bullfrog endolymphatic sac and inner ear.

In amphibians, calcium carbonate crystals are present in the endolymphatic sac and the inner ear. The formation of these crystals is considered to be facilitated by a protein called otoconin-22. We examined the spatial and temporal expression of otoconin-22 during the development of the bullfrog (Rana catesbeiana) using RT-PCR, in situ hybridization (ISH), and immunofluorescence techniques. By RT-PCR, otoconin-22 mRNA was first detected in embryos at Shumway stage 20, and this expression pattern continues in late stages. The first otoconin-22 mRNA-positive reaction was detected in stage 22 embryos in the placode of the endolymphatic sac. Otoconin-22 protein was observed in the epithelial cells of the endolymphatic sac at stage 24. On the other hand, a whole-mount ISH technique showed the first expression of otoconin-22 mRNA in the inner ear, in addition to the endolymphatic sac, at the mid-phase of Shumway stage 25. We discuss the role of otoconin-22 in the formation of calcium carbonate crystals in the endolymphatic sac and inner ear.     

Pituitary glycoprotein hormone oligosaccharides: structure, synthesis and function of the asparagine-linked oligosaccharides on lutropin, follitropin and thyrotropin

Luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) from pituitary and chorionic gonadotropin (CG) from placenta are a family of closely related glycoproteins. Each hormone is a heterodimer, consisting of an alpha- and a beta-subunit. Within an animal species, the alpha-subunits of all four glyco-protein hormones have an identical amino acid sequence, whereas each beta-subunit is distinct and confers hormone-specific features to the heterodimer. LH and FSH are synthesized within the same cell, the gonadotroph of the anterior pituitary, but are predominantly stored in separate secretory granules. We have characterized the asparagine-linked oligosaccharides on bovine, ovine and human LH, FSH and TSH. The various pituitary hormones were found to contain unique sulfated oligosaccharides with the terminal sequence SO4-4GalNAc beta 1----4GlcNAc beta 1----2Man alpha, sialylated oligosaccharides with the terminal sequence SA alpha Gal beta GlcNAc beta Man alpha, or both sulfated and sialylated structures. Despite synthesis of LH and FSH in the same pituitary cell, sulfated oligosaccharides predominate on LH while sialylated oligosaccharides predominate on FSH for all three animal species. We have examined the reactions leading to synthesis of the sulfated oligosaccharides to determine which steps are hormone specific. The sulfotransferase is oligosaccharide specific, requiring only the sequence GalNAc beta 1----4GlcNAc beta 1----2Man alpha. In contrast, the GalNAc-transferase appears to be protein specific, accounting for the preferential addition of GalNAc to LH, TSH, and free (uncombined) alpha-subunits compared with FSH and other pituitary glycoproteins. The predominance of sulfated oligosaccharide structures on LH may account for sorting of LH and FSH into separate secretory granules. Differences in sulfation and sialylation of LH, FSH and TSH may also play a role in the regulation of hormone bioactivity.     

Chromogranin B: isolation from pheochromocytoma, N-terminal sequence, tissue distribution and secretory vesicle processing

The chromogranins/secretogranins are a family of neuroendocrine vesicle secretory proteins. Immunohistology and immunoblotting have suggested that a major soluble protein in human chromaffin granules may be chromogranin B (CgB). We purified from pheochromocytoma chromaffin granules an SDS-PAGE 110-120 kDa protein whose N-terminal sequence matched that previously deduced from a human CgB cDNA. An antibody directed against a synthetic human CgB N-terminal region specifically recognized the CgB N-terminus, though not the chromogranin A (CgA) N-terminus or the CgB C-terminus on immunoblots. An antiserum directed against CgB's C-terminus also visualized CgB but not CgA. By immunoblotting, CgB was a quantitatively major protein in human pheochromocytoma chromaffin granules, but a relatively minor in normal bovine adrenal medullary chromaffin granules. In a variety of normal bovine neuroendocrine tissues, the relative abundance of CgB immunoreactivity on immunoblots was: adrenal medulla greater than anterior pituitary greater than pancreas greater than small intestine, hypothalamus. Immunoblotting of neuroendocrine tissues (or their hormone storage vesicle cores) with both anti N-terminal and anti C-terminal CgB antisera suggested bidirectional cleavage or processing of CgB; in the anterior pituitary, a unique 40 kDa C-terminal fragment was observed. Bidirectional CgB cleavage was also suggested on immunoblots of chromaffin tissue from three species (human, bovine, rat). C-terminal processing of CgB was also confirmed by amino acid sequencing of SDS-PAGE-separated, polyvinylidene difluoride membrane-immobilized CgB fragments from pheochromocytoma chromaffin granules. Whether such fragments possess biological activity remains to be investigated.     

Immunochemical and immunohistochemical study of the 27- and 29-kDa calcium-binding proteins and related proteins in the porcine tooth germ

 Our previous report identified 27- and 29-kDa calcium-binding proteins in porcine immature dental enamel. In this study we revealed that the N-terminal amino acid sequences of the two proteins were identical: LLANPXGXIPNLARGPAGRSRGPPG. The sequence matches a portion of the amino acid sequence of the porcine sheath protein, sheathlin. Porcine tooth germs were investigated immunochemically and immunohistochemically using specific antibodies raised against synthetic peptide that included residues 13–25 of this sequence. The affinity-purified antibodies reacted with several proteins extracted from newly formed immature enamel in immunochemical analyses, especially protein bands migrating at 62, 35–45, 29, and 27 kDa in SDS-polyacrylamide gels. The largest protein detected was a weak band near 70 kDa. In immunochemical analyses of proteins extracted from the inner (old) immature enamel, the antibody reacted faintly with the 27- and 29-kDa proteins. In immunohistochemical preparations, the Golgi apparatus and secretory granules of the secretory ameloblast, and the surface layer of immature enamel showed immunoreactivity. The immunoreactivity of immature enamel just beneath the secretory face of the Tomes’ process was intense. No immunoreactivity was found in the Golgi apparatus of the maturation ameloblast. These results suggest that the 70-kDa protein, whose degradation might be very fast, is the parent protein of the 27- and 29-kDa proteins. Accepted: 20 January 1997     

Purification and characterization of joining peptide and N-terminal peptide of proopiomelanocortin from the pars distalis of the bullfrog pituitary.

The joining peptide (JP) and the N-terminal peptide of proopiomelanocortin (NPP) were isolated from an acid-acetone extract of the distal lobe of the pituitary of the bullfrog, Rana catesbeiana, and purified by gel filtration and reverse-phase high performance liquid chromatography. The amino acid sequence of the bullfrog JP resembled the sequences of the JPs of Rana ridibunda (86% similarity) and Xenopus laevis (54% similarity), as deduced from the nucleotide sequences of their cDNAs. The amino acid sequence of bullfrog NPP showed 100%, 85%, and 50% similarity with those of Rana ridibunda, Xenopus laevis, and human NPPs, respectively. Administration of bullfrog NPP (0.05-5 micrograms/ml) to perifused Rana ridibunda interrenal slices induced a dose-dependent stimulation of corticosterone and aldosterone release. The present results indicate that the primary structure of NPP has been highly conserved during evolution. These data also reveal that NPP, which has no sequence homology with ACTH, exhibits a substantial corticotropic activity.     

Glycoproteins in membranes of secretory granules of the anterior pituitary gland

Summary Rat anterior pituitary glands were examined by electron microscopy after staining with five different histochemical stains. Histochemical reactions were observed in the cell coat, cell membrane and the membrane surrounding the secretory granules in all anterior pituitary cells following staining with phosphotungstic acid (PTA), chromic acid and PTA, the periodic acid-thiosemicarbazide-silver protein method (PA-TSC-SP) of Thiéry, ruthenium red and concanavalin A. The staining was abolished when the sections were preincubated with pronase, neuraminidase or trypsin and subsequently exposed to PTA, chromic acid and PTA or PA-TSC-SP. The possible functional role of the glycoproteins present in the membrane surrounding the secretory granules is considered.     

Distribution of 7B2 (secretogranin V)-like immunoreactivity in the Japanese red-bellied newt (Cynops pyrrhogaster) pituitary

In this study, we examined 7B2 (secretogranin V)-like immunoreactivity (IR) in the Japanese red-bellied newt (Cynops pyrrhogaster) pituitary. Results showed that the pars nervosa was filled with immunoreactive granules. In the pars intermedia, all melanotrophs showed 7B2-IR. In the pars distalis, immunoreactive cells were dispersed, and the 7B2-immunoreactive cells were also immunopositive for the β-subunit of bullfrog luteinizing hormone (fLHβ). 7B2-IR co-localized with fLHβ-IR in the same secretory granules. Our results suggest that 7B2 may participate in the secretion processes of gonadotropins in the pars distalis.     

CXCL14-like immunoreactivity in growth hormone-containing cells of urodele pituitaries

Immunohistochemical techniques were employed to investigate the distribution of a chemokine, namely, CXCL14-like immunoreactivity in the axolotl (Ambystoma mexicanum) and Japanese black salamander (Hynobius nigrescens) pituitaries. CXCL14-immunoreactive cells concentrated at an area of the pars distalis adjacent to the pars intermedia. We found that these cells correspond to the cells immunoreactive to an antibody against rat growth hormone (GH). Immunoelectron microscopy indicated that the CXCL14-like substance and GH coexisted on the secretory granules in the axolotl pituitary. Western blot analysis of axolotl pituitary extracts revealed the anti-human CXCL14 antibody labeled an approximately 16.6-kDa band that was not labeled by the anti-GH antibody. The CXCL14-like substance in the pars distalis may participate in GH functions in these species.     

Isolation and NH2-terminal sequence of a highly conserved human and porcine pituitary protein belonging to a new superfamily: Immunocytochemical localization in pars distalis and pars nervosa of the pituitary and in the supraoptic nucleus of the hypothalamus

The isolation and purification of a 21,000-Da (pI 4.9) novel protein from porcine anterior pituitary and whole human pituitary is described. Comparison of the NH₂-terminal sequence of the first 77 and 81 residues of the human and porcine homologs shows only one conservative substitution at residue 12, namely an Ala for a Thr between these two species. Such high sequence homology is also reflected in their amino acid composition. A computer data-bank search using a mutation data matrix and comparison with 338,327 segments of proteins revealed that this substance should be classified as belonging to a new protein superfamily. Immunocytochemical staining, using an antibody produced against a synthetic fragment, revealed the presence of immunostainable material in the anterior and posterior lobe of the pituitary and in the supraoptic nucleus of the hypothalamus. No staining was observed in the intermediate lobe of the pituitary. Furthermore, purified neurointermediate lobe secretory granule preparations were also shown to contain this novel polypeptide.     

Notechis 11'2, a non-toxic phospholipase A2 from the venom of Notechis scutatus scutatus.

Previously, we deduced the amino acid sequence of a novel phospholipase-A2-like protein (PLA2) from the nucleotide sequence of a cDNA isolated from a library prepared from the venom gland of the Australian elapid Notechis scutatus scutatus. The corresponding protein has now been identified, purified from the venom and named Notechis 11'2. Its complete amino acid sequence has been determined by automated Edman degradation of both the whole protein and peptides generated by Staphylococcus aureus protease digestion and chemical cleavage at a tryptophan residue. As predicted from its sequence which contains all the residues putatively required for PLA2 activity, Notechis 11'2 exhibits an esterase activity, preferentially against neutral phospholipids. However, despite its sequence homology with other highly toxic PLA2 present in the venom of Notechis scutatus scutatus, notechis 11'2 has no lethal activity. This observation further supports the view that the lethal activity of PLA2 from Notechis scutatus scutatus is not due to the esterasic activity only.     

Molecular cloning and expression of the gene encoding a phospholipase A1 from Aspergillus oryzae.

Phospholipase A1 (PLA1) is a hydrolytic enzyme that catalyzes removal of the acyl group from position 1 of lecithin to form lysolecithin. The genomic DNA and cDNA encoding PLA1 from Aspergillus oryzae were cloned with the mixed deoxyribonucleotide-primed polymerase chain reaction. The PLA1 gene is composed of 1,056 bp and has four exons and three short introns (63, 54, and 51 bp). The deduced amino acid sequence of PLA1 contained the N-terminal sequence of the mature PLA1 analyzed by Edman degradation. PLA1 cDNA has an open reading frame of 885 bp encoding the PLA1 precursor of 295 amino acid residues. The mature PLA1 is composed of 269 amino acid residues, and a prepro-sequence of 26 amino acid residues is at the N-terminal region of the PLA1 precursor. PLA1 has two possible N-glycosylation sites (Asn27 and Asn55). PLA1 has a consensus pentapeptide (-Gly-His-Ser-Xaa-Gly-), which is conserved in lipases. The amino acid sequence of PLA1 showed 47% identity with that of mono- and diacylglycerol lipase from Penicillium camembertii. The PLA1 cDNA was expressed in Saccharomyces cerevisiae KS58-2D, indicating the cloned gene to be functional.     

In vitro mutagenesis of trypsinogen: role of the amino terminus in intracellular protein targeting to secretory granules

The mouse anterior pituitary tumor cell line, AtT-20, targets secretory proteins into two distinct intracellular pathways. When the DNA that encodes trypsinogen is introduced into AtT-20 cells, the protein is sorted into the regulated secretory pathway as efficiently as the endogenous peptide hormone ACTH. In this study we have used double-label immunoelectron microscopy to demonstrate that trypsinogen colocalizes in the same secretory granules as ACTH. In vitro mutagenesis was used to test whether the information for targeting trypsinogen to the secretory granules resides at the amino (NH2) terminus of the protein. Mutations were made in the DNA that encodes trypsinogen, and the mutant proteins were expressed in AtT-20 cells to determine whether intracellular targeting could be altered. Replacing the trypsinogen signal peptide with that of the kappa-immunoglobulin light chain, a constitutively secreted protein, does not alter targeting to the regulated secretory pathway. In addition, deletion of the NH2-terminal "pro" sequence of trypsinogen has virtually no effect on protein targeting. However, this deletion does affect the signal peptidase cleavage site, and as a result the enzymatic activity of the truncated trypsin protein is abolished. We conclude that neither the signal peptide nor the 12 NH2-terminal amino acids of trypsinogen are essential for sorting to the regulated secretory pathway of AtT-20 cells.     

N-terminal amino acid sequence, immunohistochemical localization and tissue distribution of a plasma membrane protein (Prot17) of rat enterocytes

Prot17, a protein of the basolateral membrane of rat small intestine with a mol.wt. of 17 kDa, can be isolated using a previously described method (Schiechl 1988). It occurs in the membrane as an oligomer with a mol.wt. of 90 kDa. In the present study a polyclonal antibody specific for Prot17 was used to explore by immunohistochemical techniques the tissue distribution of Prot17 and its ultrastructural localization within the cells. Furthermore the amino acid sequence of the N-terminal part of this molecule up to position 17 could be analyzed. The results are summarized as follows: Prot17 is a membrane anchored protein. Its partial amino acid sequence suggests that it is neither identical nor related to other known proteins. Immunofluorescence studies revealed, that it occurs only in epithelial cells. It is mainly found in the absorptive and goblet cells of the intestine and the acinar cells of the pancreas. Smaller quantities are found also in the bile duct epithelium of the liver, in the proximal tubule cells of the kidney and in the cells of the respiratory epithelium. Ultrastructural localization of Prot17 was possible in the intestinal epithelium and pancreas acinar cells. In both cell types it was found in the basolateral and microvillous membrane. In pancreas, Prot17 was also detected in the membrane of the zymogen granules. In the absorptive cells of the intestine Prot17 was found in both the membrane and the contents of subluminal vesicles. Furthermore, in apical granules of secretory cells of the respiratory epithelium binding of Prot17 specific antibody was found in the granular content, the membrane being negative.     

Subcellular localization of gonadotrophic hormones LH and FSH in frog adenohypophysis using double-staining immunocytochemistry

We applied double post-embedding immunocytochemical methods using specific antibodies against bullfrog (Rana catesbeiana) luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) with immunogold staining (5- and 20-nm particles) to determine the subcellular localization of both gonadotropins and to observe their immunostaining patterns in anterior pituitary of the frog Rana pipiens. Results showed that individual gonadotrophs may store either one or both gonadotropins in a given secretory granule and in large globules (lysosomes?). Most gonadotrophs (50-88%) contain both hormones; 12-50% contain only FSH, and only a few (0-7%) contain LH alone. Individual secretory granules, even in cells that contain both hormones, may contain only one or both gonadotropin molecules. Evaluation of the percentage of monohormonal and multihormonal secretory granules revealed that multihormonal secretory granules were the most numerous and that LH monohormonal secretory granules were the least numerous. These results indicate that cellular storage of gonadotropin in amphibian pituitary is similar to that described for mammals, where a single cell type containing both gonadotropins predominates. Variability in hormone content both of cells and of granules in all individuals is consistent with the hypothesis that frog pituitary possesses a single multipotential gonadotroph.     

Molecular cloning and primary structure of human chromogranin A (secretory protein I) cDNA

Chromogranin A (CGA), also referred to as secretory protein I, is an acidic protein that has been detected in all neuroendocrine cell types examined and is often present in large amounts relative to other secreted proteins. For example, CGA comprises at least 40% of the soluble protein of the adrenal chromaffin granule, and it appears to be the major secretory protein in the parathyroid secretory granules. CGA complementary DNAs (cDNAs) from bovine adrenal and pituitary have recently been cloned and sequenced and found to be nearly identical. A region of bovine CGA has a high degree of amino acid sequence identity to pancreastatin, a recently isolated porcine peptide that inhibits glucose-induced insulin secretion. This suggests that CGA may be a prohormone. We have cloned and sequenced a human cDNA encoding CGA. This human CGA cDNA has an overall 86% nucleic acid identity to the bovine cDNA. Like the bovine CGA cDNA, the human cDNA has little homology to pancreastatin at the 5' region of this peptide but significant amino acid homology to the carboxyl-terminal portion of pancreastatin where the biologic activity resides. There is an area within the pancreastatin region of human CGA and porcine pancreastatin with a 70% amino acid identity to the calcium-binding moiety of the E-F hand proteins such as parvalbumin and oncomodulin. These data suggest that CGA and pancreastatin may both be members of a larger family of calcium-binding proteins.     

Changing ultrastructure of thyrotrophs in the rat anterior pituitary after thyroidectomy as studied by immuno-electron microscopy and enzyme cytochemistry

Summary The characteristic ultrastructure of thyrotrophs of the rat anterior pituitary was observed by immuno-electron microscopy and enzyme cytochemistry with increasing time after thyroidectomy (TX). The rough endoplasmic reticulum (ER) became dilated, the intracisternal granules reacted to serum raised against thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) around 21 days after TX, and lysosomes and peculiar structures with positive acid phosphatase activity were present. The administration of thyroxine (T₄) to the thyroidectomized rats resulted in the reformation of secretory granules, a reduction of dilated cisternae of rough ER and the activation of the lysosomal systems. Morphological features indicating that the TX-cells might be derived from growth hormone (GH) cells or cells other than TSH cells, previously suggested by some researchers, were not recognized in the present study. The amount of serum and pituitary TSH was measured by radioimmunoassay (RIA), and correlated well with the morphological changes. These results indicate that the TX-cells are hypertrophied hyperfunctioning TSH cells that have been affected by the lack of negative feedback of thyroid hormone.     

Characterization of the cDNA encoding bullfrog, Rana catesbeiana, osteocalcin and two forms of the protein isolated from bone

A full-length cDNA clone encoding osteocalcin from the bullfrog, Rana catesbeiana (bone Gla-protein, BGP) has been isolated, and the complete coding sequence for the 100-amino-acid pre-pro-osteocalcin protein was determined. The amino acid sequence of Rana catesbeiana osteocalcin, especially the mature 49-amino acid sequence, is closer to the mammalian than to the fish, Sparus osteocalcin. Rana mature osteocalcin has a similarity of 67% with human or 59% with rat osteocalcin, and only 42% with fish mature osteocalcin. The 51-amino-acid pre-pro-peptide contains the expected hydrophobic leader sequence and the dibasic Arg-Arg sequence preceding the NH2-terminal Ser of the mature 49-amino-acid Rana osteocalcin. The pro-peptide sequence also contains the expected motif of polar and hydrophobic residues, which targets vitamin K-dependent gamma-carboxylation of three specific Glu residues at positions 17, 21, and 24 in the mature protein. At the native protein expression levels, extraction from Rana cortical bone in the presence of protease inhibitor cocktail resulted in the isolation of two distinct forms of osteocalcin, P-1 and P-2, with a 3:2 distribution. Using matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF-MS) and amino acid sequence analysis of the N-terminal domain, we confirmed that P-1 is the intact 49-residue osteocalcin with N-terminal SNLRNAVFG., and that P-2 lacks four amino acids from the N-terminus, (NAVFG.). These results demonstrate the existence of a form of osteocalcin lacking four N-terminal amino acids in Rana bone, and that mature Rana osteocalcins remained highly conserved in their molecular evolution, especially with respect to the conservation of the C-terminal domain (residues 14-49).     

Localization of endothelin A receptors in the rat pituitary TSH cells: light- and electron-microscopic immunohistochemical studies

Endothelins modulate hormonal secretion in the pituitary gland. Intense signaling of endothelin A receptors (ET(A)R) has been detected by in situ hybridization, binding assay and receptor autoradiography. We used light- and electron-microscopic immunohistochemistry of ET(A)R with polyclonal antibody against a synthetic peptide corresponding to the carboxyl terminus (403-427) of human ET(A)R. Immunoreactivity was observed in 6-8% of anterior pituitary cells, which were rather large polygonal or stellate cells. These cells were often clustered. Double-staining immunofluorescence showed that the ET(A)R-positive cells immunoreacted with antibody against the beta-subunit of thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), but not adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) or lutenizing hormone beta (LHbeta). Pre- and postembedding electron-microscopic immunohistochemistry showed that ET(A)R-positive cells had vacuolated or parallel-lined rough endoplasmic reticulum (rER) and numerous round granules in their periphery and the elongated processes. By pre-embedding immunohistochemistry, diaminobenzidine tetrahydrochloride (DAB) products were shown to be mostly located around the granules and occasionally underneath the plasma membrane. By postembedding immunohistochemistry, granules in the ET(A)R-positive cells were 90-150 nm in diameter, and colloidal gold particles due to ET(A)R were associated with about 10% of these granules. These results indicate that ET(A) receptors are associated mostly with the secretory granules of TSH cells.     

High-level expression of biologically active human prolactin from recombinant baculovirus in insect cells

We examined the feasibility of high-level production of recombinant human prolactin, a multifunctional protein hormone, in insect cells using a baculovirus expression system. The human prolactin cDNA with and without the secretory signal sequence was cloned into pFastBac1 baculovirus vector under the control of polyhedrin promoter. Prolactin was produced upon infection of either Sf9 or High-Five cells with the recombinant baculovirus containing the human prolactin cDNA. The production of recombinant prolactin varied from 20 to 40 mg/L of monolayer culture, depending on the cell types. The prolactin polypeptide with its own secretory signal was secreted into the medium. N-terminal amino acid sequence analysis of the recombinant polypeptide purified from the culture medium indicated that the protein was processed similar to human pituitary prolactin. Carbohydrate analysis of the purified protein indicated that a fraction of the recombinant prolactin made in insect cells appeared to be glycosylated. Also, both secreted and nonsecreted forms of the recombinant prolactin in insect cells were biologically equivalent to the native human prolactin (pituitary derived) in the Nb2 lymphoma cell proliferation assay.     

Chromogranin from normal human adrenal glands: purification by monoclonal antibody affinity chromatography and partial N-terminal amino acid sequence

A method is presented for the purification of human chromogranin from adrenal glands obtained at autopsy. The procedure involved homogenization of whole glands in aqueous buffer, salt precipitation, affinity chromatography using a highly specific monoclonal antibody (LK2H10) and reverse-phase high-pressure liquid chromatography. Chromogranin purified from autopsy adrenal glands revealed a high degree of polypeptide heterogeneity when analyzed by silver-stained SDS polyacrylamide gels. Greater than 90% of the protein was represented by a cluster of polypeptides with an Mr = 70 000 (i.e. chromogranin A), while the remaining protein was highly disperse in molecular weight. That these various polypeptides were in fact chromogranin was shown by Western blotting using monoclonal antibody LK2H10. About 6 nmol of chromogranin were obtained from 97 g of starting adrenals which was estimated to be a 25% yield and a 250-fold enrichment from adrenal homogenates. Critical to achieving reasonable yields of this protein was the need for particular low pH buffers for resuspension of chromogranin after solvent removal steps. Chromogranin purified from human adrenal glands was similar in amino acid composition, and identical in the N-terminal amino acid sequence (24 residues) to bovine chromogranin A. A secondary sequence representing 25% of the total protein and missing the first three residues of the N-terminus suggested the possibility of N-terminal processing of chromogranin in situ. The conservation of the N-terminal amino acid sequence of human and bovine chromogranin contrasts with the strong sequence variability predicted by antisera cross-reactivity and suggests that the N-terminus of chromogranin may be critical for its biological activity.