title: alpha-MSH and neurofilament M-protein share a continuous epitope but not extended sequences. An explanation for neurofibrillary staining with alpha-MSH antibodies.
abstract: The long recognized neurofibrillary immunoreactivity of the nervous system with alpha-MSH antibodies arises from an epitope on neurofilament M-protein which we have now characterized. It is situated in the amino terminal residues where M-protein and alpha-MSH exhibit similar but not identical sequences. Their divergence past residue 5 precludes a physiological significance of the crossreactivity which seems to have arisen fortuitously. Our results question previous speculations as to the existence of extrapituitary alpha-MSH-like hormones.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Shaw
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Fischer
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Weber
mesh_terms: D000107:Acetylation; D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D000906:Antibodies / Q000276:immunology; D000918:Antibody Specificity; D002645:Chickens; D000939:Epitopes / Q000276:immunology*; D007381:Intermediate Filament Proteins / Q000276:immunology*; D009074:Melanocyte-Stimulating Hormones / Q000276:immunology*; D016900:Neurofilament Proteins; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000276:immunology; D013552:Swine
chemical_list: D000906:Antibodies; D000939:Epitopes; D007381:Intermediate Filament Proteins; D016900:Neurofilament Proteins; D010446:Peptide Fragments; D009074:Melanocyte-Stimulating Hormones