beta-Lipotropin: primary structure of the hormone from the ostrich pituitary gland

The amino acid sequence of beta-lipotropin from the ostrich pituitary has been determined. It consists of 79 amino acids. The amino acid sequence has been determined as follows: H-(1)AlA-Leu-Pro-Pro-Ala-Ala-Met-Leu-Pro-(10)Ala-Ala-Ala-Glu-Glu-Glu-Glu-Gly-Gl u-Glu-(20)Glu-Glu-Glu-Gly-Glu-Ala-Glu-Lys-Glu-Asp-(30)Gly-Gly-Ser-Tyr-Arg-Met-A rg-His-Phe-Arg-(40)Trp-Gln-Ala-Pro-Leu-Lys-Asp-Lys-Arg-Tyr-(50)Gly-Gly-Phe-Met- Ser-Ser-Glu-Arg-Gly-Arg-(60)Ala-Pro-Leu-Val-Thr-Leu-Phe-Lys-Asn-Ala-(70)Ile-Val -Lys-Ser-Ala-Tyr-Lys-Lys-Gly-(79)Gln-OH. When compared with the primary structures of other known beta-lipotropins, the sequence at the NH2-terminal, beta-melanotropin and beta-endorphin portions of the molecule exhibit considerable variability.