title: Differential N-acetylation of alpha-MSH and beta-endorphin in the intermediate pituitary of the turtle, Pseudemys scripta.
abstract: Steady-state analyses of the intermediate pituitary of the turtle, Pseudemys scripta, indicated that alpha-MSH-sized immunoreactive forms and beta-endorphin-sized immunoreactive forms are major end products of melanotropic cells. Three forms of alpha-MSH-related immunoreactivity were detected. The two major forms had the same reversed-phase HPLC properties as synthetic N,O-diacetyl-ACTH(1-13)-NH2 and N-acetyl-ACTH(1-13)-NH2. These forms accounted for 97% of the total alpha-MSH-related immunoreactivity detected. A minor peak of ACTH(1-13)-NH2 was also detected. Multiple forms of beta-endorphin-related immunoreactivity were detected, which varied in net positive charge (+1 to +5), apparent molecular weight (2.4 to 3.5 kDa), and degree of N-terminal acetylation. Although N-acetylated forms of beta-endorphin were detected in the turtle intermediate pituitary, the major forms of turtle beta-endorphin were nonacetylated. These features of the turtle intermediate pituitary POMC-specific N-acetylation mechanism are similar to, yet distinct from, the POMC N-acetylation mechanisms observed for mammals. These data suggest that POMC-specific N-acetylation mechanisms were present in reptiles prior to the divergence of the anapsid and synapsid lines.
authors.affiliation: University of Denver, Department of Biological Sciences, CO 80208.
authors.forename: R M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Dores
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Harris
mesh_terms: D000107:Acetylation; D000818:Animals; D002850:Chromatography, Gel; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D002852:Chromatography, Ion Exchange; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D010802:Phylogeny; D010902:Pituitary Gland / Q000378:metabolism*; D011333:Pro-Opiomelanocortin / Q000096:biosynthesis; D014426:Turtles / Q000378:metabolism*; D000521:alpha-MSH / Q000378:metabolism*; D001615:beta-Endorphin / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D000521:alpha-MSH; D001615:beta-Endorphin; D011333:Pro-Opiomelanocortin