Melanotropes of the lizard, Anolis carolinensis, lack N-acetylating mechanisms for both alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone and beta-endorphin.
In order to determine whether Anolis carolinensis intermediate pituitary cells have the capacity to N-acetylate either ACTH(1-13)NH2 or beta-endorphin during secretion, individual intermediate pituitary explants were incubated in DMEM/CO2 for 24 h at 28 degrees C. Although alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone (alpha-MSH)- and beta-endorphin-related products were spontaneously released into the medium, none of these forms were N-acetylated. It appears that unlike most gnathostomes, A. carolinensis has secondarily lost the POMC-specific N-acetylation mechanisms. A ramification of this observation is that the alpha-MSH for A. carolinensis is ACTH(1-13)NH2.
Dores
R M
RM
Department of Biological Sciences, University of Denver, Colo 80208.
Wasinger
H
H
Vaudry
D
D
Steveson
T
T
Lancha
A
A
D000107:Acetylation; D000818:Animals; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002852:Chromatography, Ion Exchange; D008116:Lizards; D008297:Male; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000378:metabolism*; D010902:Pituitary Gland / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D000521:alpha-MSH / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000378:metabolism*; D001615:beta-Endorphin / Q000378:metabolism*
D010446:Peptide Fragments; D000521:alpha-MSH; D001615:beta-Endorphin