title: Phylogenetic distribution of peptides related to chromogranins A and B.
abstract: The presence of chromogranin-related peptides in a wide range of species was investigated by one and two-dimensional electrophoresis followed by immunoblotting. Antisera against bovine chromogranins A and B and the peptide WE-14 (chromogranin A316-329) were used. Chromogranins were identified by their heat stability, by their electrophoretic behavior, and by immunological cross-reaction with antisera. In all species investigated ranging from mammals to birds, amphibians, fish, and arthropods, chromogranin A- and B-like proteins could be demonstrated. For all species, there was an immunological cross-reaction with antisera against bovine chromogranins. The molecular sizes and isoelectric points of the chromogranins were similar in all species. The antiserum against WE-14 cross-reacted with pig, rat, and chicken chromogranins. It is concluded that the chromogranins A and B have a widespread phylogenetic distribution with a significant conservation of molecular size, isoelectric points, and immunological epitopes. This is consistent with the concept that these peptides have a specific function.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, University of Innsbruck, Austria.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Rieker
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Fischer-Colbrie
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Eiden
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Winkler
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002347:Carps; D002645:Chickens; D002838:Chromaffin System / Q000032:analysis*; D053379:Chromogranin A; D002864:Chromogranins / Q000032:analysis*; D004591:Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel; D006168:Guinea Pigs; D006736:Horses; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D007118:Immunoassay; D051379:Mice; D008121:Nephropidae; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000032:analysis*; D010802:Phylogeny; D011893:Rana esculenta; D051381:Rats; D012756:Sheep; D013045:Species Specificity; D013552:Swine; D014982:Xenopus laevis
chemical_list: D053379:Chromogranin A; D002864:Chromogranins; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins