title: Chemical identification of the mammalian oxytocin in a holocephalian fish, the ratfish (Hydrolagus colliei).
abstract: The neurohypophysial hormones of the ratfish (Hydrolagus colliei), a species belonging to the subclass Holocephali of cartilaginous fishes, have been investigated. An oxytocin-like hormone has been isolated from acetone-desiccated pituitary glands by using successively molecular sieving and high-pressure liquid chromatography. The peptide has been identified as oxytocin by coelution with synthetic oxytocin in HPLC, amino acid sequencing, mass spectrometry, and C-terminal sequencing through carboxypeptidase Y. Vasotocin may be present in a very small amount. Cartilaginous fishes appear to display a great diversity in their oxytocin-like hormones since five different peptides have been identified in rays and sharks that belong to the second subclass Selachii.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Biological Chemistry, University of Paris VI 96, France.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Michel
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Chauvet
authors.forename: M T
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Chauvet
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Clarke
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Bern
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Acher
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D002268:Carboxypeptidases; D002850:Chromatography, Gel; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D005260:Female; D005399:Fishes / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D013058:Mass Spectrometry; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D008970:Molecular Weight; D010121:Oxytocin / Q000032:analysis* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D010904:Pituitary Gland, Posterior / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D010121:Oxytocin; D002268:Carboxypeptidases; C022633:serine carboxypeptidase