Purification and characterization of amino-terminal pro-opiocortin peptides from human pituitary glands

Two cystine-containing peptides isolated from human pituitaries were partially sequenced. The peptides are fragments derived from the amino-terminal of pro-opiocortin (NPOC) and have been chemically characterized as NPOC 1-28 (which lacks gamma-MSH) and NPOC 2-59. Their availability enables us to investigate new putative biological roles for the amino-terminal conserved sequence of pro-opiocortin.