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Characterization of a Novel -Amidated Decapeptide Derived from Proopiomelanocortin-A in the Trout Pituitary¹

European Institute for Peptide Research (IFRMP 23), Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Neuroendocrinology, INSERM U-413, Unité Affiliée au Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, University of Rouen (H.T., J.L., M.C.T., H.V.), Mont-Saint-Aignan; and Laboratory of Cell Biology and Reproduction, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique URA 256, University of Rennes I (T.B., I.C., P.J.), Rennes, France; and Laboratory of Neuroendocrinology, Zoological Institute, University of Leuven (F.V.), Leuven, Belgium

Address all correspondence and requests for reprints to: Dr. Hubert Vaudry, European Institute for Peptide Research (IFRMP 23), Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Neuroendocrinology, INSERM U-413, UA Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, University of Rouen, 76821 Mont-Saint-Aignan, France.

Two complementary DNAs encoding distinct forms of POMC have been characterized in the trout pituitary. One of the POMC variants (POMC-A) possesses a C-terminal extension of 25 amino acids, which has no equivalent in other POMCs described to date. This C-terminal peptide contains three pairs of basic amino acids, suggesting that it may be the precursor of multiple processed peptides. In addition, the presence of a C-terminal glycine residue suggests that some of the processing products may be -amidated. To characterize the molecular forms of the peptides generated from the C-terminal domain of trout POMC-A, we have developed specific antibodies against the C-terminal pentapeptide YHFQG and its -amidated derivative YHFQ-NH₂. Immunocytochemical labeling of pituitary sections with antibodies against YHFQ-NH₂ revealed the presence of numerous immunoreactive cells in the pars intermedia and the rostral pars distalis. In contrast, the antibodies against YHFQG produced only weak immunostaining. HPLC analysis combined with RIA detection revealed that extracts of the pars intermedia and pars distalis contain several peptides derived from the C-terminal extension of trout POMC-A, with the predominant molecular form exhibiting the same retention time as ALGERKYHFQ-NH₂. Tryptic digestion of this major form produced a peptide that coeluted with YHFQ-NH₂. These data indicate that the processing of the C-terminal extension of trout POMC-A generates several novel peptides including the decapeptide amide ALGERKYHFQ-NH₂.

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