title: Biological activity of the Asn-5,Arg-7 tridecapeptide encoded by MF alpha 2 of Saccharomyces cerevisiae.
abstract: The precursor predicted by the nucleotide sequence of the MF alpha 2 gene of Saccharomyces cerevisiae contains one copy of the tridecapeptide alpha-factor previously characterized (H2N-Trp-His-Trp-Leu-Gln-Leu-Lys-Pro-Gly-Gln-Pro-Met-Tyr-COOH) and one copy of a peptide that contains two conservative amino acid substitutions (H2N-Trp-His-Trp-Leu-Asn-Leu-Arg-Pro-Gly-Gln-Pro-Met-Tyr-COOH). To determine whether the novel molecule possesses biological activity, the Asn-5,Arg-7 tridecapeptide was prepared chemically by solid-phase peptide synthesis. Growth arrest and morphogenesis assays gave identical activity profiles for the Asn-5,Arg-7 peptide and the other gene product, the Gln-5,Lys-7 peptide. The activities of the two peptides were additive and indistinguishable for S. cerevisiae X2180-1A. When present in fourfold molar excess, the biologically inactive desTrp-1,Ala-3 dodecapeptide reversed activity of the Asn-5,Arg-7 and Gln-5,Lys-7 tridecapeptides. Furthermore, neither peptide caused growth arrest of a MATa ste2(Ts) mutant when assayed at the restrictive temperature. These studies suggest that both pheromones interact with the alpha-factor receptor in a similar manner.
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D001483:Base Sequence; D002453:Cell Cycle; D005796:Genes; D005800:Genes, Fungal; D000072235:Mating Factor; D010455:Peptides / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D012441:Saccharomyces cerevisiae / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D010455:Peptides; D000072235:Mating Factor