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Rat pro-opiomelanocortin contains sulfate
Science (New York, N.Y.)
|July 2, 1982
Summary
Rat pituitary intermediate lobes sulfate pro-opiomelanocortin (POMC). The arginine analog canavanine inhibits POMC cleavage, causing POMC accumulation, which is also sulfated.
Area of Science:
- Endocrinology
- Molecular Biology
- Biochemistry
Background:
- The pituitary gland's intermediate lobe produces pro-opiomelanocortin (POMC).
- POMC undergoes post-translational modifications and cleavage into active peptides.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of sulfation in POMC processing.
- To examine the effects of canavanine on POMC metabolism in rat pituitary intermediate lobes.
Main Methods:
- Isolation of rat pituitary intermediate lobes.
- Incubation with [35S]sulfate to label newly synthesized peptides.
- Treatment with the arginine analog canavanine to inhibit protein processing.
Main Results:
- [35S]sulfate was incorporated into POMC and adrenocorticotropic hormone-containing peptides.
- Canavanine treatment inhibited the cleavage of POMC into smaller peptides.
- Accumulated POMC in the presence of canavanine was found to be sulfated.
Conclusions:
- Sulfation is a modification that occurs on POMC.
- Inhibition of POMC cleavage by canavanine leads to the accumulation of sulfated POMC.