Comparison of iodinated [Nle15]- and [Met15]-gastrin17 prepared by reversed-phase HPLC

125I-[Nle15]-gastrin17 prepared by the iodogen method can be separated by reversed-phase high performance liquid chromatography into two peaks, both of which elute after [Nle15]-gastrin17. Direct determination of the specific activities of the two derivatives by microbore reversed-phase HPLC indicated that they were the mono- and di-iodinated species. In contrast the two peaks obtained with [Met15]-gastrin17 iodinated under the same conditions eluted earlier, relative to the appropriate gastrin17 standard, than the [Nle15]-gastrin derivatives. Treatment of either peak with 0.75 M dithiothreitol at 56 degrees C or 95 degrees C resulted in progressive conversion to compounds migrating in relative positions similar to the 125I-[Nle15]-gastrin17 derivatives. Direct determination of the specific activity of the earlier eluting [Met15]-gastrin17 derivative before reduction indicated that it was the mono-iodinated species. It thus appears likely that iodination of [Met15]-gastrin17 by the iodogen method results predominantly in the formation of mono- and di-125I-[Met sulphoxide15]-gastrin17. To avoid problems arising from oxidation of the methionine residue of gastrin during iodination, the use of 125I-[Nle15]-gastrin17 in binding studies is therefore recommended.