Melanocyte-stimulating hormone: activity in thermal polymers of alpha-amino acids.
Thermal polymers of arginine, glutamic acid, glycine, histidine, phenylalanine, and tryptophan have melanocyte-stimulating activity. The fact that similar polymers lack such activity indicates that the effect is related to the specific amino acid residues. The active polymers are discussed as a model of an evolutionary precursor of contemporary melanocyte-stimulating hormone.
D000818:Animals; D001001:Anura; D001120:Arginine; D001681:Biological Assay; D005075:Biological Evolution; D002856:Chromatophores / Q000187:drug effects; D005971:Glutamates; D005998:Glycine; D006639:Histidine; D006358:Hot Temperature; D007016:Hypophysectomy; D009074:Melanocyte-Stimulating Hormones / Q000032:analysis*; D008956:Models, Chemical; D010455:Peptides / Q000032:analysis*; D010649:Phenylalanine; D014364:Tryptophan
D005971:Glutamates; D010455:Peptides; D010649:Phenylalanine; D006639:Histidine; D014364:Tryptophan; D009074:Melanocyte-Stimulating Hormones; D001120:Arginine; D005998:Glycine