Neurochemical characterization of preprotachykinin B(50-79) immunoreactivity in the rat

Preprotachykinin B (PPT-B) contains two peptide sequences which are flanked by pairs of dibasic amino acids: the decapeptide neurokinin B and a 30 amino acid non-tachykinin peptide consisting of the amino acids 50-79 of PPT-B. Whereas the existence of neurokinin B is well established in brain and peripheral tissues, native PPT-B(50-79) has not been identified so far. We have previously studied the distribution of PPT-B(50-79)-immunoreactivity in the rat brain using antibodies directed against synthetic PPT-B(50-79). Now we adapted a radioimmunoassay for characterizing neurochemically PPT-B(50-79)-immunoreactivity in the rat. In the brain concentrations ranging from 2 to 180 fmol/mg wet tissue weight were measured using synthetic PPT-B(50-79) as standard. The highest concentrations were observed in the interpeduncular nucleus and in the hypothalamus (180 and 90 fmol/mg tissue, respectively). Intermediate concentrations (15 to 60 fmol/mg tissue) were present in cortical areas, in the hippocampus, the spinal cord and in the olfactory bulb. Modest levels were detected in the cerebellum. Considerably lower concentrations of PPT-B(50-79)-immunoreactivity were observed in peripheral tissues. They were highest in the adrenal medulla and in the urinary bladder (3.0 and 1.2 fmol/mg tissue, respectively). This distribution, as observed by radioimmunoassay, correlated to that previously revealed by immunocytochemistry. Tissue concentrations of total PPT-B(50-79) immunoreactivity, however, were slightly higher than those of neurokinin B. Gel filtration chromatography on Sephadex G50 and reversed phase HPLC revealed at least three PPT-B(50-79) immunoreactive peaks. About 90% of the PPT-B(50-79)-immunoreactivity was contained within 2 peaks of apparently higher molecular weight than PPT-B(50-79). A minor portion of PPT-B(50-79)-immunoreactivity comigrated with the synthetic peptide, suggesting that only minor amounts of PPT-B(50-79) are formed in vivo. The processing enzyme(s) cleaving protachykinin B at the pair of basic amino acids (Lys80-Arg81) located between PPT-B(50-79) and neurokinin B may not be acting at the Arg48-Arg49 site (followed by -Leu50) at the amino terminal end of PPT-B(50-79).