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Solid phase synthesis and biological activity of rat relaxin
1Howard Florey Institute of Experimental Physiology and Medicine, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia.
Biomedical Peptides, Proteins & Nucleic Acids : Structure, Synthesis & Biological Activity
|January 1, 1996
Summary
Researchers successfully isolated and synthesized rat relaxin, a peptide hormone. The synthetic version proved identical to the natural hormone in chemical and biological assays, confirming its efficacy.
Area of Science:
- Biochemistry
- Endocrinology
- Peptide Chemistry
Background:
- Relaxin is a peptide hormone crucial for reproduction.
- Rat relaxin (Rattus rattus) plays a significant role in rodent reproductive physiology.
- Efficient isolation and synthesis methods are vital for studying relaxin's function.
Purpose of the Study:
- To isolate native rat relaxin from pregnant rat ovaries.
- To chemically synthesize rat relaxin using solid-phase peptide synthesis.
- To compare the chemical and biological properties of native and synthetic rat relaxin.
Main Methods:
- Simplified purification schedule for native rat relaxin isolation.
- Solid-phase peptide synthesis (Boc-polystyrene method) for chain assembly.
- Solution-phase combination of chains to form disulfide bonds.
- Comprehensive chemical characterization (e.g., circular dichroism spectroscopy).
- In vitro rat uterine relaxation assay for biological activity assessment.
Main Results:
- High yield isolation of native rat relaxin achieved.
- Successful chemical synthesis of rat relaxin.
- Synthetic rat relaxin was chemically indistinguishable from native rat relaxin.
- Both native and synthetic rat relaxin exhibited comparable biological activity in uterine relaxation assays.
- Synthetic rat relaxin showed similar potency to synthetic human H2 relaxin.
Conclusions:
- The simplified purification and solid-phase synthesis methods are effective for obtaining rat relaxin.
- Synthetic rat relaxin is a viable and accurate substitute for native rat relaxin in research.
- This study provides a foundation for further investigations into relaxin's reproductive roles.
