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Are sheep and buffalo prolactins sulfated?
R Kohli1, N Chadha, K Muralidhar
1Department of Zoology, University of Delhi.
Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications
|December 16, 1987
Summary
Researchers found that radioactive sulfate (35SO2-4) and mannose are incorporated into sheep and buffalo pituitary prolactin. This suggests a novel post-translational modification of prolactin, potentially involving sulfation of sugars or tyrosine residues.
Area of Science:
- Endocrinology
- Molecular Biology
- Biochemistry
Background:
- Prolactin is a key pituitary hormone involved in reproduction and metabolism.
- Understanding prolactin synthesis and post-translational modifications is crucial for its functional characterization.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the incorporation of radioactive sulfate and mannose into prolactin-like material from pituitary glands.
- To characterize the biochemical nature of sulfate incorporation into prolactin.
Main Methods:
- Incubation of sheep and buffalo pituitary minces with radioactive sulfate (35SO2-4) and [14C]-mannose.
- Immunoprecipitation of prolactin-like material.
- Sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) and Western blot analysis.
Main Results:
- Radioactive sulfate (35SO2-4) was incorporated into immunoprecipitable prolactin-like material.
- 35S-labelled prolactin was purified and showed positive bands on Western blot analysis.
- Radioactive [14C]-mannose was also incorporated into the prolactin-like material.
Conclusions:
- Prolactin in sheep and buffalo pituitaries undergoes post-translational modification involving sulfate and mannose.
- The precise nature of the sulfate linkage (e.g., sugar-SO4 or Tyrosine-SO4) remains to be elucidated.