Biosynthèse "In Vitro" de l'Hormone Béta-Lipotropique de Boeuf

Abstract

Sheep beta-lipotropic hormone (β-LPH) is a pituitary hormone made of 90 amino acids and having a portion of its sequence (41–58) identical with the structure of beta-melanocyte-stimulating hormone (β-MSH). We hypothetized that β-LPH could be the biological precursor of β-MSH. We studied the biosynthesis of these two molecules by monitoring the incorporation of radioactive amino acids in beef pituitary slices. We separated β-LPH from the other radioactive proteins with the usual method of purification described previously and we characterized the proteins by ion-exchange chromatography, gel filtration, and polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Our results show that the pituitary slices synthesized a radioactive β-LPH which has all the characteristics of non-radioactive β-LPH. However, in the conditions used, we could not demonstrate any biosynthesis of β-MSH after 4 h incubation. These results suggest that the conversion of β-LPH into β-MSH, if it exists, is a slow process and should be studied in more prolonged incubations.