title: Structure-function studies on red pigment-concentrating hormone; the significance of the terminal residues.
abstract: The significance of the terminal residues of the red pigment-concentrating hormone (RPCH: Glu-Leu-Asn-Phe-Ser-Pro-Gly-Trp-NH2) for its blanching effect on crustacean chromatophores has been investigated. The chemical synthesis of the following small analogues, starting from the C-terminal amino acid are described: Ac-Trp-NH2, Boc-Gly-Trp-NH2, Ac-Gly-Trp-NH2, Gly-Trp-NH2, Ac-Pro-Gly-Trp-NH2, Glu-Trp-NH2, Glu-Pro-Gly-Trp-NH2, Ac-Pro-Gly and Glu-Pro-Gly-NH2. Assay of the biological activity of the various synthetic compounds in the shrimp Leander adspersus has established that only the C-terminal tryptophan residue is indispensable for the blanching effect of the hormone, although elongation of the chain length improves its potency.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002856:Chromatophores / Q000187:drug effects; D033364:Decapoda / Q000502:physiology*; D007447:Invertebrate Hormones / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000502:physiology; D010455:Peptides / Q000494:pharmacology; D010858:Pigmentation / Q000187:drug effects; D013329:Structure-Activity Relationship
chemical_list: D007447:Invertebrate Hormones; D010455:Peptides