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Query: UNIPROT:P01178 (oxytocin)
 15,767 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

The structural organization of neurohypophysial hormone biosynthetic precursors and the interdependence between intramolecular folding and precursor self-association were examined using sequence-engineered mutants of the semisynthetic oxytocin/bovine neurophysin precursor (pros-OT/BNPI). In [N alpha 1-Ac,N epsilon 30,71-diacetimidyl, Ala2,des-His106] Pro-Ot/BNPI or [N alpha 1-Ac,Ala2]pros-OT/BNPI), two structural elements (Tyr2 and free alpha-amino group) were eliminated which were predicted to be critical for intramolecular conformation by stabilizing contact between hormone and neurophysin domains. This mutant was used to test the dependence of precursor self-association on intramolecular conformation. In the second mutant precursor, [N alpha 30,71-diacetimidyl,D-Pro7,D-Leu8,des-His106]p ro-OT/BNPI (or [D-Pro7,D-Leu8]pros-OT/BNPI), the stereochemistry at L-Pro7-L-Leu8 was changed to test the extent to which precursor conformation depends on ordered structure in the processing/spacer sequence which connects the interacting hormone and neurophysin I domains. Intramolecular conformation was characterized for the precursor and mutants by analytical affinity chromatography on immobilized hormone analog Met-Tyr-Phe and by circular dichroism. Data obtained by both methods showed that, while pros-OT/BNPI is folded, with hormone domain occupying the hormone-binding site of the neurophysin domain, the alpha-acetyl-Ala2 mutant is not so organized intramolecularly. When pros-OT/BNPI and the alpha-acetyl-Ala2 mutant were eluted on immobilized BNPII to measure self-association propensity, the native-like precursor was found to bind with 12-15-fold higher affinity than the assembly mutant. Thus, while pros-OT/BNPI assumes a molecular structure containing a high-affinity self-association surface induced by intramolecular hormone domain-neurophysin domain interaction, [N alpha 1-Ac,Ala2]pros-OT/BNPI does not. The results with the alpha-acetyl-Ala2 mutant show that intramolecular domain-domain interaction is the obligatory "trigger" which induces the high-affinity precursor self-association that likely drives precursor to aggregated forms in the concentrated intragranular environment that exists in peptide hormone-synthesizing cells. In contrast, affinity chromatographic and circular dichroism properties of the D-Pro7,D-Leu8 mutant show that this intramolecular trigger is dependent, but only weakly, on the conformation of the peptide sequence between domains, as judged by native-like interaction properties below 40 degrees C but lowered stability to elevated temperature.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)
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PMID:Sequence redesign and the assembly mechanism of the oxytocin/bovine neurophysin I biosynthetic precursor. 365 97

The vasopressin-oxytocin family of peptides is of very ancient lineage, found in organisms as diverse as hydra and man. Although these peptides have been intensively studied in vertebrates, the presumably more extensive invertebrate series was defined primarily by immunological methods. In this report, we describe the purification and structures of two peptides of the vasopressin-oxytocin family from molluscs ("Conopressins"), which were found in the venom of fish-hunting marine snails of the genus Conus. The biological activity observed when the two snail peptides are injected intracerebrally into mice is very similar to that elicited by the vertebrate neurohypophyseal hormones and presumably reflects their actions upon a common receptor in the brain. The sequences of the purified peptides reveal unique features not found in the vertebrate peptide series, most notably an additional positive charge. These are the first members of the invertebrate series of the vasopressin-oxytocin family to be characterized biochemically. The sequences of these peptides are: from Conus geographus venom, Lys-conopressin-G, Cys-Phe-Ile-Arg-Asn-Cys-Pro-Lys-Gly-NH2; and from Conus striatus venom, Arg-conopressin-S, Cys-Ile-Ile-Arg-Asn-Cys-Pro-Arg-Gly-NH2.
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PMID:Invertebrate vasopressin/oxytocin homologs. Characterization of peptides from Conus geographus and Conus straitus venoms. 368 Feb 28

A chemical method has been established for the detection of carboxyl-terminally amidated peptides in tissue extracts. Tissue was homogenized in an acidic medium designed to solubilize peptides while precipitating high-molecular-weight protein. The homogenate supernatant was in turn subjected to reversed-phase extraction with C18 Sep-Pak cartridges. The eluates were fractionated by reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC). Individual fractions were exhaustively digested with thermolysin, derivatized with phenylisothiocyanate (PITC), and then subjected to ethyl acetate extraction under basic conditions. The phenylthiocarbamyl (PTC)-amino acid amide derivatives were selectively taken up into the organic phase, while the other digestion products remained in the aqueous phase. The organic phase was analyzed by RP-HPLC on a Pico-Tag amino acid analysis column, monitoring eluates at 254 nm. PTC-amino acid amides were identified and quantitated by comparing their elution positions and peak areas, respectively, with those of standards. Their identities were confirmed by amino acid analysis, following hydrolysis with hydriodic acid. The technique was applied to extracts of bovine posterior pituitaries and a human medullary thyroid carcinoma. Vasopressin (-Leu-Gly-amide), oxytocin (-Gly-amide), Lys1 gamma 1-melanotropin (-Phe-amide), and various acetylated and non-acetylated forms of alpha-melanotropin (-Val-amide) were identified in the posterior pituitary extract. Various forms of calcitonin (-Val-Gly-Ala-Pro-amide) were detected in the tumour extract. For vasopressin and calcitonin the thermolytic digest resulted in di- and tetra-peptides, respectively, reflecting thermolytic cleavage at more favoured sites.
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PMID:Use of Pico-Tag methodology in the chemical analysis of peptides with carboxyl-terminal amides. 373 29

In our continuing effort to produce more potent and specific oxytocin (OT) antagonists that may have value as tocolytic agents, we have synthesized a number of new OT antagonists. Our previous studies have shown that rigid conformational structure and restricted dynamic properties are associated with antagonistic activity of the [1-penicillamine]OT [( Pen1]OT) analogs. We therefore synthesized a series of structural analogs of [Pen1,] OT; [Pen1,Thr4]-OT and [Pen1,Phe2,Thr4]OT with greater restricted conformational features. They are [Pen1,delta 3,4-Pro7]OT; [Pen1,Thr4,delta 3,4-Pro7]OT; [Pen1,Phe2,Thr4,delta 3,4-Pro7]OT; [Pen1, Orn8]OT; [Pen1,Phe2,Thr4,delta 3,4,-Pro7,Orn8]OT; [Pen1, Tyr(OMethyl)2,-Thr4,Orn8]OT; [Pen1,Tyr(OEthyl)2,Thr4,Orn8]OT; [Pen1,Phe(Methyl)2,Thr4,Orn8]OT and [Pen1Phe(Ethyl)2,Thr4, Orn8]OT. As expected, all were found to be potent OT antagonists, with in vitro pA2 values ranging from 5.32 to 7.67. They were also effective OT antagonists in vivo in the term pregnant rats. Structural modifications in the above analogs produced various and interesting effects. Dehydroproline substitution for 7-proline in [Pen1]OT increased antagonistic potency, whereas in [Pen1,Thr4]OT and in [Pen1,Phe2,Thr4]OT decreased antagonistic potency. Most significantly, analogs with O-alkyl-Tyr2, Orn8 and p-alkyl-Phe2,Orn8 substitutions were found to have prolonged action both in the isolated rat uterus assays and in the term pregnant rats. Generally, substitution of the alkyl groups resulted in a reduction in anti-OT potency, and increasing the size of the alkyl substituent from a methylene group to an ethyl group diminished antagonistic potencies markedly.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
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PMID:Design of oxytocin antagonists with prolonged action: potential tocolytic agents for the treatment of preterm labor. 376 Nov 99

The neurohypophyseal hormones arginine vasopressin (AVP) and oxytocin are capable of replacing the interleukin 2 (IL 2) requirement for T cell mitogen induction of gamma-interferon (IFN-gamma) in mouse spleen cell cultures. The structural basis for the helper signal by these hormones resides in the six N-terminal amino acids of AVP based on the relative ability of AVP, oxytocin, vasotocin, and pressinoic acid (AVP six N-terminal amino acid peptide) to help in IFN-gamma induction. AVP and pressinoic acid provide maximal help at 10(-10) M, while oxytocin and vasotocin with isoleucine at position three in place of phenylalanine are 10-fold less effective. An AVP competitive antagonist of vasopressor activity blocks the AVP helper signal for production of IFN-gamma, while having no effect on IL 2 help. This suggests that the AVP helper signal operates via binding to an AVP vasopressor-type receptor on lymphocytes.
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PMID:Regulation of lymphokine production by arginine vasopressin and oxytocin: modulation of lymphocyte function by neurohypophyseal hormones. 392 16

The effects on bovine neurophysin-I of binding the perdeuterated peptides Phe-PheNH2 and Leu-PheNH2 were compared by proton NMR. A unique difference between the two peptides in their effects on Tyr-49 ring protons indicated proximity of the Tyr-49 ring to the side-chain of position 1 of bound peptide. Non-deuterated oligopeptides containing Phe in position 3 and no methyl groups induced different changes in neurophysin methyl resonances than dipeptides, suggesting shielding of one or more protein methyl groups by Phe-3. The results demonstrate that the identity of neurophysin residues at the hormone-binding site can be probed by analysis of changes induced in the protein spectrum by systematically related NMR-transparent peptides.
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PMID:Use of perdeuterated peptides in NMR studies of neurophysin-hormone interaction: demonstration of peptide-specific changes in neurophysin resonances. 400 58

An oxytocin/bovine neurophysin I biosynthetic precursor, [N epsilon-diacetimidyl-30,71, des-His106]pro-OT/BNPI, was synthesized from a synthetic oxytocinyl peptide, 1/2Cys-Tyr-Ile-Gln-Asn-1/2Cys-Pro-Leu-Gly-Gly-Lys-Arg, and native neurophysin by chemical semisynthesis. The semisynthetic precursor contains the entire sequence of the biosynthetic precursor deduced from the complementary DNA structure except for omission of the carboxyl-terminal histidine residue. The covalent structure of the semisynthetic product was verified by amino acid analysis and amino-terminal analysis. Analytical affinity chromatography was employed to evaluate noncovalent binding properties of the precursor. The precursor does not bind significantly to immobilized Met-Tyr-Phe, a hormone binding site ligand. In contrast, the acetimidated precursor binds to immobilized bovine neurophysin II, with a 13-fold higher affinity than does acetimidated neurophysin itself. When a hormonal ligand, [Lys8]vasopressin, was added to the elution buffer at the concentration of 0.1 mM so that a major portion of the immobilized BNPII was liganded, the affinity between the immobilized liganded BNPII and the precursor was enhanced 8-fold and approached the affinity for the liganded (bovine neurophysin I-immobilized BNPII) interaction. The data imply that the precursor can self-associate and that this self-association is closely related to that of liganded neurophysin. The tripeptide affinity matrix data argue that, in the precursor, the ligand binding site of the neurophysin domain is occupied intramolecularly by the hormone domain. The data verify the view that both the self-association surface and hormone binding site are established upon precursor folding. A disulfide stability analysis showed the resistance, to disulfide interchange by dithiothreitol, of semisynthetic precursor but not of neurophysin, as judged by protein association and peptide ligand binding activities, respectively. The results argue that the molecular structure of the precursor is established upon precursor folding and before enzymatic processing that produces mature hormone and neurophysin.
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PMID:Molecular properties of the oxytocin/bovine neurophysin biosynthetic precursor. Studies using a semisynthetic precursor. 400 99

1. Recently it has been shown that injection of angiotensin II into the anterior diencephalon causes the rat to drink water. In the present experiments the dipsogenic action of a number of other substances including substances related to angiotensin was tested.2. Injection of 0.001 Goldblatt u. renin into the angiotensin-sensitive region causes the water-replete rat to drink. Drinking is slower in onset and continues for longer than after injection of angiotensin II.3. Synthetic tetradecapeptide renin substrate and angiotensin I were as effective as angiotensin II at causing water-replete rats to drink.4. beta-aspartic acid(1)-valine(5)-angiotensin II was also fully effective; but the D-arginine substituted octapeptide was much less effective.5. The (2-8) heptapeptide retained about 50% of the dipsogenic activity of the octapeptide, whereas the absence of phenylalanine at the other end of the peptide chain in the (1-7) heptapeptide results in an inactive compound.6. The (3-8) hexapeptide and the (4-8) pentapeptide, both of which have phenylalanine at the end of the chain, and the (1-4) and (5-8) tetrapeptide fragments of angiotensin II showed only a slight action on intake of water.7. Kallikrein, bradykinin, adenosine-3'5-cyclic phosphate, vasopressin and oxytocin caused no drinking when injected into the angiotensin-sensitive region.8. It is concluded that the requirements for the dipsogenic activity of angiotensin are the same as those for its other biological actions with the qualification that the precursor peptides are also active, presumably because they give rise to angiotensin II locally.
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PMID:The effect on drinking of peptide precursors and of shorter chain peptide fragments of angiotensin II injected into the rat's diencephalon. 432 62

A partially purified enzyme extracted from the bladder of the toad, Bufo marinus L., was found to cleave the glycine amide moiety from oxytocin, 8-lysine-vasopressin, 8-arginine-vasopressin, and other hormone analogs terminating in a primary carboxamide group; however, this enzyme does not attack hormone analogs terminating with a methylamide, dimethylamide, or carboxyl group. Preliminary experiments indicate that a functionally similar enzyme is also present in the mammalian kidney, the major target organ of neurohypophyseal antidiuretic hormones. This enzyme, besides inactivating oxytocin and 8-lysine-vasopressin, also cleaves the phenylalanine amide moiety from a tetrapeptide analog of gastrin, another hormone terminating in a primary carboxamide group. Attention is drawn to the possible general significance of "carboxamidopeptidases" for the termination of the action of peptide hormones in which the C-terminal amino acid residue bears a carboxamide group.
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PMID:Enzymatic inactivation of peptide hormones possessing a C-terminal amide group. 526 Sep 45

Circular dichroism studies of the bovine neurophysins in the near ultraviolet show a strong negative band at 280 nm and a strong positive band at 248 nm, both of which are attributable almost exclusively to disulfide transitions. The ellipticities per disulfide bond of the unresolved bands in neurophysin-II are -2900 deg cm(2)/decimole and +2300 deg cm(2)/decimole at 280 nm and 248 nm, respectively. Binding of oxytocin, vasopressin, or the peptide S-methyl-L-cysteinyl-L-tyrosyl-L-phenylalanine amide lead to large changes in optical activity in the near and far ultraviolet. Of these circular dichroism changes above 290 nm are attributed to changes in the optical activity of neurophysin disulfides, while changes elsewhere are more generally ascribed to changes in either disulfide, tyrosine, or peptide bond transitions. Optical rotatory dispersion studies show that calcium ion, at concentrations of 0.01 M, has only trivial effects on the affinity of bovine neurophysins for oxytocin.
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PMID:Optical activity of bovine neurophysins and their peptide complexes in the near ultraviolet. 528 4


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