Further characterization of the molecular species formed during the biosynthesis of rat luteinizing hormone

Abstract

During the biosynthesis of rat LH (rLH) there are four molecular species found intracellularly: native rLH, a species which co-elutes with rLHα on Sephadex G-100, a species which elutes with an apparent molecular weight of approximately 21 000 and a large molecular weight form (excluded from Sephadex G-100). Significant quantities of native rLH and rLHα are secreted. The species of large molecular weight binds to Concanavalin A–Sepharose suggesting that it is glycosylated. The 21 000 molecular weight rLH-like molecule has tentatively been identified as an rLH subunit which has not been completely processed.