title: Conversion of beta-human atrial natriuretic polypeptide into alpha-human atrial natriuretic polypeptide in human plasma in vitro.
abstract: Using synthetic beta-human atrial natriuretic polypeptide (beta-hANP), an antiparallel dimer of alpha-hANP, and radioimmunoassay (RIA) for alpha-ANP which also detects beta-hANP, we investigated the disappearance profile and the change in the molecular form of exogenously added beta-hANP in human plasma in vitro, compared with those of alpha-hANP. The ANP-like immunoreactivity (ANP-LI) level in beta-hANP-added human plasma exhibited slower disappearance than that in alpha-hANP-added plasma during the incubation at 37 degrees C. High performance-gel permeation chromatography and reverse phase-high performance liquid chromatography coupled with RIA revealed that beta-hANP (6K) was converted into a smaller peptide with an approximate molecular weight of 3K corresponding to alpha-hANP during the incubation. Amino acid analysis and amino-terminal sequencing confirmed that the converted peptide from beta-hANP in human plasma is authentic alpha-hANP. The demonstrated conversion of beta-hANP into alpha-hANP in human plasma could be relevant to the in vivo natriuretic and diuretic actions with slower onset and longer duration of this unique peptide.
mesh_terms: D000596:Amino Acids / Q000032:analysis; D009320:Atrial Natriuretic Factor / Q000097:blood*; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008657:Metabolic Clearance Rate; D008970:Molecular Weight; D011863:Radioimmunoassay
chemical_list: D000596:Amino Acids; D009320:Atrial Natriuretic Factor