title: Total solid-phase synthesis and prolactin-inhibiting activity of the gonadotropin-releasing hormone precursor protein and the gonadotropin-releasing hormone associated peptide.
abstract: The human gonadotropin-releasing hormone precursor protein, pHGnRH (Met-23-Ile69) (preproGnRH), and three of its fragment peptides, pHGnRH (Asp14-Ile69) (gonadotropin-releasing hormone associated peptide--GAP), pHGnRH (Phe38-Ile69), and pHGnRH (Ser47-Ile69), were assembled in a stepwise solid-phase cosynthesis employing Boc/Bzl tactics and an optimized acylation schedule which included recoupling steps with hexafluoro-2-propanol to help overcome the aggregation of the pendant peptide chains of the peptidoresin during difficult couplings. Reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) purification yielded products which were characterized by analytical reversed-phase HPLC, ion-exchange chromatography, capillary zone electrophoresis, SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, and ion-spray mass spectrometry to reveal a high degree of homogeneity. Biological characterization demonstrated that only GAP stimulated luteinizing hormone and follicle-stimulating hormone release from primary cultures of rat anterior pituitary cells, while GAP, pHGnRH (Phe38-Ile69), and preproGnRH all inhibited prolactin release, with the latter being the most potent at concentrations comparable to bromocryptine. However, only GAP and pHGnRH (Phe38-Ile69) were able to displace a labeled gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist from binding to rat pituitary membrane preparations. This first demonstration of significant biological activity with a precursor protein also suggests that the gonadotropin-releasing and prolactin release-inhibiting functions of GAP are not mediated through the same pituitary receptors.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical Pathology, University of Cape Town Medical School, Observatory, South Africa.
authors.forename: S C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Milton
authors.forename: W F
authors.initials: WF
authors.lastname: Brandt
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Schnölzer
authors.forename: R C
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Milton
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone / Q000378:metabolism; D007987:Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone / Q000138:chemical synthesis* / Q000494:pharmacology; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone / Q000378:metabolism; D013058:Mass Spectrometry; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010903:Pituitary Gland, Anterior / Q000378:metabolism; D011388:Prolactin / Q000378:metabolism*; D011498:Protein Precursors / Q000138:chemical synthesis* / Q000494:pharmacology; D051381:Rats; D012636:Secretory Rate / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D011498:Protein Precursors; C050502:gonadotropin releasing hormone associated peptide; D007987:Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone; D011388:Prolactin; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone