Isolation of alpha-melanotropin from the pars intermedia of the larval amphibian, Ambystoma tigrinum.
The effect of background adaptation on the steady-state levels of alpha-melanotropin in the pars intermedia of the larval amphibian. Ambystoma tigrinum, was investigated. Acid extracts of pars intermedia obtained from light-adapted and dark-adapted animals were analyzed by radioimmunoassay following Sephadex gel filtration chromatography, reverse-phase HPLC, and Sulfopropyl Sephadex cation-ion-exchange chromatography. For both background adaptation conditions similar results were obtained. The major form of alpha-melanotropin present in the pars intermedia has the following properties: (1) an apparent molecular mass of 1.5 kDa; (2) a net charge at pH 3.5 of +4; and (3) a retention time following reverse-phase HPLC similar to that of synthetic ACTH(1-13)amide. In dark-adapted animals a minor form of alpha-melanotropin which has a net charge of +3 at pH 3.5 was also detected. The latter form represented approximately 10% of the total alpha-melanotropin immunoreactivity in the pars intermedia of dark-adapted animals. These results strongly suggest that the predominant form of alpha-melanotropin in the pars intermedia of larval A. tigrinum is a nonacetylated ACTH(1-13)amide-like polypeptide.
University of Denver, Department of Biological Sciences, Colorado 80208.
R M
RM
Dores
L M
LM
Schenk
M E
ME
Rothenberg
D000222:Adaptation, Physiological; D000557:Ambystoma / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D001923:Brain Chemistry; D002850:Chromatography, Gel; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D002852:Chromatography, Ion Exchange; D007814:Larva; D008027:Light; D009074:Melanocyte-Stimulating Hormones / Q000302:isolation & purification*
D009074:Melanocyte-Stimulating Hormones