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Peptide and Protein Hormones—from Biological Definitions to Chemical Compounds

Endocrinology to remember—how the application of new means for the purification and analysis of proteins led in the late 1940s and 1950s to the final establishment that the biological activity of some hormones (as well as enzymes) resides in simple peptides or proteins of defined amino acid sequence. Thus, though both insulin and urease had been crystallized in 1926, lingering doubts by some persisted well into the 1930s as to the true chemical nature of various biologically active principles. The picture changed dramatically in the next two decades and was privileged to participate, with many others, in one major effort. The research concerned the active principles responsible for the uterine contracting, milk ejecting pressor, and antidiuretic activities of extracts of the posterior pituitary gland. Two hormones, oxytocin and vasopressin, were isolated; their covalent structure determined, and their chemical synthesis achieved.

The laboratory was that of Professor Vincent du Vigneaud and colleagues at Cornell University Medical College, New York.

Footnotes

"Remembrance" articles discuss people and events as remembered by the author. The opinion(s) expressed are solely those of the writer and do not reflect the view of the Journal or The Endocrine Society.

"Remembrance" articles discuss people and events as remembered by the author. The opinion(s) expressed are solely those of the writer and do not reflect the view of the Journal or The Endocrine Society.

Many scientists and laboratories contributed to the events summarized herein. For more detail see Sanger F 1988 Sequences, sequences, sequences. Annu Rev Biochem 57:1 and du Vigneaud V 1960 Experiences in the polypeptide field: insulin to oxytocin. Ann N Y Acad Sci 88:537. Selected original papers can be found in Pierce JG (ed) 1982 Peptide and Protein Hormones. Hutchinson Ross, Stroudsburg, PA.

Received July 27, 1991.

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