This Article Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Request Copyright Permission Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by REICHERT, L. E. Articles by LAWSON, G. M. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by REICHERT, L. E., JR. Articles by LAWSON, G. M., JR.

Molecular Weight Relationships Among the Subunits of Human Glycoprotein Hormones¹

Department of Biochemistry, Division of Basic Health Sciences, Emory University Atlanta, Georgia 30322

Abstract

The mol wt of the subunits of hLH, hFSH, hCG and hTSH have been studied by the method of polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis in sodium dodecyl—sulfate, after reduction with mercaptoethanol. The isolated —subunit of hLH had a mol wt of 21,200 daltons and the isolated —subunit of hCG had a mol wt of 22,300 daltons. The isolated P—subunit of hLH had a mol wt of 18,000 daltons, and the isolated β—subunit of hCG had a mol wt of 35,100 daltons. When measurements were made on intact hormones after mercaptoethanol reduction, the corresponding subunits were easily identified by comparison with patterns obtained after electrophoresis of the isolated subunits, and the resulting mol wt estimates were comparable. After electrophoresis of reduced hTSH, two bands were evident with mol wt = 21,200 and 16,600. When highly purified hFSH, or a mixture of propionic acid dissociated hFSH subunits were examined, only a single major band could be detected, having a mol wt = 24,200. In all instances, SDS—electrophoresis of intact hLH or the isolated β—hLH subunit (but not the —hLH subunit), gave evidence of a fast moving component estimated to have a mol wt of 10,000 or less. Since this component was not seen after electrophoresis of hFSH, hTSH, hCG, or bLH, or of the isolated subunits of hCG and bLH, it seems to be uniquely related to the hLH—P subunit. (Endocrinology 92: 1034, 1973)

Footnotes

¹ This is publication #1097 from the Division of Basic Health Sciences, Emory University. These studies were supported in part by USPHS Grant AM–03598. A preliminary account of portions of this study was presented during the Laurentian Hormone Conference, Mont Tremblant, Canada, September, 1972.

Received June 2, 1972.