The elucidation of the structure of atrial natriuretic factor, a new peptide hormone

The benchmark experiments of Adolfo de Bold and Harald Sonnenberg revealed that heart atria contained a substance or substances (atrial natriuretic factor) which when injected into rats caused a profound diuresis, natriuresis, and fall in blood pressure. Acid extraction and purification of atrial natriuretic factor resulted initially in the purification of a low molecular weight peptide containing a disulfide bond. This peptide was named cardionatrin I. Amino acid sequencing of less than 1 nmol of cardionatrin I revealed it to be a 28-residue peptide with the following structure: (sequence; see text) The position of the disulfide bond was verified by a radioactive method. From the sequence of complementary DNA for atrial natriuretic factor, the 28-residue peptide was shown to be the C-terminal portion of a larger protein called pro-atrial natriuretic factor. The discovery and characterization of atrial natriuretic factor substantiated the idea that the heart atria serve in an endocrine capacity.     

Isolation of a brain peptide identical to the intestinal PHI (peptide HI)

The isolation of a brain peptide identical to the intestinal peptide PHI (peptide HI) is described. The peptide was isolated from porcine brain extract using a chemical assay method based on its C-terminal isoleucine amide structure. The complete amino acid sequence of the peptide was found to be: His-Ala-Asp-Gly-Val-Phe-Thr-Ser-Asp-Phe-Ser-Arg-Leu-Leu-Gly-Gln-Leu-Ser-Ala- Lys-Lys-Tyr-Leu-Glu-Ser-Leu-Ile-NH2. This sequence is identical to the intestinal peptide thus demonstrating PHI to be a brain-gut peptide. The role of PHI in the central nervous system as a neurotransmitter or neuromodulator is discussed.     

Characterization of the C-terminal flanking peptide of human beta-preprotachykinin

The nucleotide sequence of cDNA encoding the common biosynthetic precursor of substance P, neurokinin A and neuropeptide K (beta-preprotachykinin) predicts that, in the human, the precursor contains a C-terminal flanking peptide of 19 amino acid residues [beta-preprotachykinin(111-129)-peptide]. Using an antiserum raised against synthetic human beta-preprotachykinin(117-126)-peptide in radioimmunoassay, we have demonstrated that an extract of a human neuroendocrine tumor of the adrenal medulla contained approximately equimolar concentrations of C-terminal preprotachykinin immunoreactivity (C-PPT-IR), substance P and neurokinin A. The C-terminal preprotachykinin flanking peptide was purified to homogeneity and its primary structure was determined. The amino acid sequence of the peptide, Ala-Leu-Asn-Ser-Val-Ala-Tyr-Glu-Arg-Ser-Ala-Met-Gln-Asn-Tyr-Glu, indicates identity with beta-preprotachykinin(111-126)-peptide. The data suggest that the C-terminal flanking peptide, like the tachykinins, is packed into secretory storage vesicles but the Arg127-Arg128-Arg129 residues in human beta-preprotachykinin are removed from the peptide by the action of endogenous processing enzyme(s).     

Valosin: isolation and characterization of a novel peptide from porcine intestine

The isolation and primary structure of a novel gastrointestinal peptide, designated valosin, is described. The peptide was purified from porcine upper gut extracts using an HPLC and N-terminal sequence screening strategy which depends on chromatographic and structural characteristics as isolation criterion. The amino acid sequence of this peptide consists of 25 amino acid residues:     

Isolation and identification of a new diuretic peptide from the tobacco hornworm, Manduca sexta.

A 30-amino acid diuretic peptide was isolated from the corpora cardiaca-corpora allata complexes and, separately, from medial neurosecretory cells of the Sphingid moth, Manduca sexta. The peptide was found to have the following sequence, determined by automated Edman degradation and mass spectrometry: SFSVNPAVDILQHRYMEKV AQNNRNFLNRV-NH2. We have named the peptide Mas-DP II. The peptide was synthesized and shown to possess diuretic activity in decapitated moths. Mas-DP II is related by sequence homology to a 41-amino acid diuretic peptide identified previously from M. sexta, and it belongs to the family of corticotropin releasing factor-like peptides.     

Purification and amino acid sequence of mating factor from Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

Mating factor is a peptide excreted into the culture fluid by alpha-mating type cells of Saccharomyces cerevisiae X-2180 1B. The purification of the mating factor was carried out by ion exchange chromatography on phosphocellulose and Amberlite IRC 50 columns, followed by gel filtration on a Sephadex LH 20 column. The factor thus prepared was a peptide composed of Lys1, His1, Trp2, Gln2, Pro2, Gly1, Met1, Leu2 and Tyr1, and was able to induce morphological changes on alpha-mating type cells at a concentration of 5 pg/ml. The amino acid sequence of the mating factor was determined by the manual Edman degradation method using intact mating factor and its thermolytic peptides. The C-terminal amino acid residue was determined by digesting the factor with carboxypeptidase A. The complete amino acid sequence of the mating factor was established to be as follows: Trp-His-Trp-Leu-Gln-Leu-Lys-Pro-Gly-Gln-Pro-Met-Tyr.     

The primary structure of a PYY-related peptide from chicken intestine suggests an anomalous site of cleavage of the signal peptide in preproPYY.

Although the amino acid sequence of members of the pancreatic polypeptide (PP)-family of regulatory peptides has been poorly conserved during vertebrate evolution, the overall length of the peptides (36 amino acid residues) has remained constant. Nucleotide sequence analysis of cloned cDNAs and/or genomic fragments has shown the PP-related sequence immediately follows the signal peptide in the prepropeptides. A peptide tyrosine-tyrosine (PYY)-related peptide with 37 residues has been isolated from the chicken intestine, and its primary structure was established as: Ala-Tyr-Pro-Pro-Lys-Pro-Glu-Ser-Pro-Gly10-Asp-Ala-Ala-Ser-P ro-Glu-Glu-Ile-Ala-Gln20-Tyr-Phe-Ser-Ala-Leu-Arg-His-Tyr-Il e-Asn30-Leu-Val-Thr-Arg-Gln-Arg-Tyr.CONH2. The presence of an additional alanine residue at the NH2-terminus of the peptide suggests that the site of cleavage of the signal peptide in chicken preproPYY is different from the site of cleavage in other PP-family prepropeptides.     

Calcitonin gene-related peptide: novel neuropeptide

Calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) is a 37 amino acid peptide encoded in the calcitonin gene. Its expression is dependent on tissue-specific alternative RNA processing: mRNA for CGRP predominates in the brain, whilst calcitonin (CT) mRNA predominates in thyroid C cells. The existence of this hitherto unsuspected peptide was predicted by mRNA analysis and demonstrated using antibodies raised against a synthetic peptide corresponding to the predicted C-terminal sequence of CGRP. The distribution of CGRP in the central and peripheral nervous system and its co-localization in some neurons with substance P (SP) or acetylcholine suggests several possible roles in autonomic, sensory and motor functions. Its actions appear to depend on the existence of specific CGRP receptors in target tissues, distinct from the receptors for CT but bearing some resemblance to them.     

Behavioral characterization of attractin,a water-borne peptide pheromone in the genus aplysia

Pheromones play a significant role in coordinating reproductive activity in many animals, including opisthobranch molluscs of the genus APLYSIA: Although solitary during most of the year, these simultaneous hermaphrodites gather into breeding aggregations during the reproductive season. The aggregations contain both mating and egg-laying animals and are associated with masses of egg cordons. The egg cordons are a source of pheromones that attract other Aplysia to the area, reduce their latency to mating, and induce egg laying. One of these water-borne egg cordon pheromones ("attractin") has been characterized and shown to be attractive in T-maze assays. Attractin is the first water-borne peptide pheromone characterized in invertebrates. In the current studies, behavioral assays were used to better characterize the attraction, and to examine whether attractin can induce mating. Although the two activities could be related (i.e., attraction occurring because animals were looking for a partner), this was not tested. T-maze assays showed that attractin works as part of a bouquet of odors: the peptide is attractive only when Aplysia brasiliana is part of the stimulus. The animal does not need to be a conspecific, perhaps explaining why multiple species may be associated with one aggregation. Native and recombinant attractin are equally attractive, verifying that N-glycosylation at residue 8 is not required for attraction. Mating studies showed that both native and recombinant attractin reduce the latency to mating. The effects are larger when hermaphroditic mating is considered: in addition to reducing latency, attractin doubles the number of pairs mating as hermaphrodites. The effect may result from attractin stimulating both animals to mate as males and would be consistent with behaviors previously seen in the T-maze. Attractin may thus be contributing to the formation of copulatory chains and rings seen in aggregations in the field. These results may be interpreted in two ways: (1). attractin has multiple activities that contribute to the establishment and maintenance of the aggregation; or (2). the induced desire to mate may make attractin attractive when it is presented in conjunction with an animal. In either case, the results open the door for cellular and molecular studies of mechanism of action.     

Species-specific inhibition of fertilization by a peptide derived from the sperm protein bindin.

The sperm protein bindin is responsible for the species-specific adhesion of the sperm to the egg. The regions of the bindin molecule responsible for forming the contact between the sperm and the egg were investigated by measuring the ability of peptides representing various regions of the bindin sequence to inhibit fertilization. Twenty-four peptides were studied: 7 based on the Strongylocentrotus purpuratus bindin sequence, 11 based on the S. franciscanus bindin sequence, and 6 control peptides. Values for the concentration of peptide required to inhibit 50% of the productive sperm contacts (IC50) were extracted from experimental measurements of the extent of fertilization in the presence of various concentrations. of these peptides. The IC50 value averaged 220 microM for the control peptides. Active peptides representing certain specific subregions of the bindin sequence displayed IC50 values < 10% of the average value for control peptides, and the IC50 for the most potent of the peptides tested was only approximately 1% of the control peptide value (IC50 = 2.2 microM). Furthermore, we found that a peptide representing a particular region of the S. franciscanus bindin sequence that differs from the S. purpuratus bindin sequence inhibits fertilization species specifically. For the reaction of S. purpuratus sperm and eggs, the IC50 of this peptide was approximately 120 microM, whereas for the reaction of S. franciscanus sperm and eggs it was only 8.6 microM. These results demonstrate that a few specific regions of the bindin molecule are involved in the sperm-egg contact and that certain of these regions mediate the species specificity of the interaction in a sequence-specific manner.     

Neuropeptide K: isolation, structure and biological activities of a novel brain tachykinin

A 36 amino acid residue peptide, which contains a substance K sequence at its C-terminus has been isolated from porcine brain extracts. The primary structure of the peptide, designated neuropeptide K (NPK), was found to be: (sequence; see text) This N-terminally extended form of substance K is present in a high concentration in the brain. The peptide is highly biologically active with regard to gallbladder contraction, protein extravasation, hypotension and bronchial smooth muscle spasm and may act as an additional tachykinin neuromessenger.     

Structure of cCF10, a peptide sex pheromone which induces conjugative transfer of the Streptococcus faecalis tetracycline resistance plasmid, pCF10

The peptide pheromone, cCF10, which induces aggregation and high frequency plasmid transfer in Streptococcus faecalis cells carrying the tetracycline resistance plasmid, pCF10, was isolated and its structure determined. The molecular weight of cCF10 is 789, and its amino acid sequence is H-Leu-Val-Thr-Leu-Val-Phe-Val-OH. Pheromone activity, as determined by a clumping induction assay, was detectable at a concentration of 2.5 x 10(-11) M. A peptide of the same sequence as that of the cCF10 produced by S. faecalis cells was synthesized by the liquid-phase method. The synthetic pheromone showed biological activity and chromatographic behavior that was identical to that of the cCF10 of bacterial origin. When the response of S. faecalis cells to various concentrations of synthetic cCF10 was monitored by measuring both the frequency of plasmid transfer and the synthesis of pheromone-inducible antigens, an excellent correlation was observed between donor ability and the appearance of a 150-kilodalton protein that appears to be involved in formation of mating aggregates. The dose-response data in the range of concentrations where the amount of pheromone became limiting (10(-11)-10(-12) M) were consistent with the notion that as few as one or two molecules per donor cell may be sufficient to induce a mating response.     

Enhancement of gene delivery to human airway epithelial cells in vitro using a peptide from the polyoma virus protein VP1

BACKGROUND: Current liposome-based gene delivery methods for therapeutic benefit are limited by their low efficiency. One possible way to improve gene expression is to include a peptide with a nuclear localization signal (NLS) to enhance the movement of the transfection complex from the cytoplasm to the nuclei of target cells. We have tested a synthetic peptide based on the amino terminal region of the polyoma virus VP1 protein. This region has non-overlapping motifs for DNA binding and nuclear localization. METHODS: Luciferase gene transfer efficiency was evaluated using this peptide and a control peptide with a mutated NLS in subconfluent, confluent and polarized human bronchial epithelial (16HBE) cells compared to lipoplex alone. RESULTS: Gene transfer efficiency with a lipopolyplex containing the VP1 peptide enhanced gene delivery compared to lipoplex. Transfection with a lipopolyplex containing the control peptide failed to enhance gene delivery. The VP1 peptide increased the amount of plasmid associated with the nucleus while the mutant VP1 peptide did not. The order of lipopolyplex formation was important, with greatest enhancement when peptide was added to the plasmid before addition of the liposome. A bipartite peptide with the VP1 sequence and an integrin-binding motif (RGD) resulted in a reduction in gene transfer efficiency compared to lipoplex. Cell adhesion studies showed that the integrin binding associated with the RGD motif was lost when it was attached to the VP1 sequence. The combination of the two peptide sequences in cis may have compromised the function of both. CONCLUSIONS: Our results indicate that the VP1 peptide represents a strategy to enhance liposome-mediated gene delivery to airway epithelia in vitro. Comparison of transfection efficiencies between the VP1 and the mutant VP1 peptides and the direct measurement of plasmid associated with the nucleus suggests that this enhancement is caused by the NLS signal sequence in the peptide.     

Lom-AG-myotropin: a novel myotropic peptide from the male accessory glands of Locusta migratoria

A myotropic peptide, termed Lom-AG-myotropin, was isolated from extracts of 4400 accessory gland complexes of males of the locust, Locusta migratoria; the following sequence was derived: Gly-Phe-Lys-Asn-Val-Ala-Leu-Ser-Thr-Ala-Arg-Gly-Phe-NH2. This sequence is completely different from all presently known myotropic peptides from Locusta or other insects. The Lom-AG-myotropin is active on the oviduct and hindgut of Locusta migratoria and Leucophaea maderae. The stimulatory activity is, in both insects, 1000 times greater on the oviduct than on the hindgut, suggesting a specificity for the oviduct.     

Solution structure of a core peptide derived from scyllatoxin

An analysis of the sequences of scyllatoxin and charybdotoxin suggested that it would be possible to design a core peptide sequence which would still fold to give the β-hairpin and helix seen in the toxins, but which would eliminate one disulfide and connecting residues. The core sequence was modeled, then synthesized and purified. The cysteines oxidize in air to give the same disulfide pairings as seen in the parent toxins as the major product. The three-dimensional structure of the core sequence peptide, termed Max, was determined using proton NMR spectroscopy and found to be identical in secondary structure to the toxins. However differences were found in the relative orientation of the β-hairpin and helix. The use of this structural motif, found in many insect toxins, as a disulfide framework for exploring sequence/structure/activity relationships is discussed. © 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Ranakinin: A Novel NK1 Tachykinin Receptor Agonist Isolated with Neurokinin B from the Brain of the Frog Rana ridibunda

An extract of the whole brain of the frog Rana ridibunda contained high concentrations of substance P-like immunoreactivity, measured with an antiserum directed against the COOH-terminal region of mammalian substance P and neurokinin B-like immunoreactivity, measured with an antiserum directed against the NH2-terminus of neurokinin B. The primary structure of the substance P-related peptide (ranakinin) was established as: Lys-Pro-Asn-Pro-Glu-Arg-Phe-Tyr-Gly-Leu-Met-NH2. Mammalian substance P was not present in the extract. The primary structure of the neurokinin B-related peptide was established as: Asp-Met-His-Asp-Phe-Phe-Val-Gly-Leu-Met-NH2. This amino acid sequence is the same as that of mammalian neurokinin B. Ranakinin was equipotent with substance P and [Sar9,Met(O2)11]substance P in inhibiting the binding of 125I-Bolton-Hunter-[Sar9,Met(O2)11]substance P, a selective radioligand for the NK1 receptor, to binding sites in rat submandibular gland membranes (IC50 1.6 +/- 0.3 nM; n = 5). It is concluded that ranakinin is a preferred agonist for the mammalian NK1 tachykinin receptor subtype.     

Isolation and sequence of a non-opioid peptide derived from proenkephalin

A non-opioid peptide derived from adrenal proenkephalin has been isolated and sequenced. The sequence of this peptide is Ser-Pro-His-Leu-Glu-Asp-Glu-Thr-Lys-Glu-Leu-Gln (Proenkephalin 168-180). This sequence represents the portion of Peptide I that is cleaved to yield Peptide E. This peptide is processed in a similar manner to the opioid peptides and is present at approximately the same level as Peptide E.     

A DNA-binding peptide from a phage display library

A DNA-binding peptide was selected from a random peptide phage display library. For competitive elution using the DNA methyltransferase M.TaqI in the selection step, a biotin-labeled duplex oligodeoxyribonucleotide containing the 5'-TCGA-3' recognition sequence of M.TaqI was employed. Nine of ten phages selected were found to have the same deduced amino acid sequence SVSVGMKPSPRP. The selected phage binds to DNA, as demonstrated in an ELISA.