Abstract
Summary
The pituitary anterior and posterior lobes of oxen, sheep and pigs were extracted and ACTH, alpha-MSH and beta-MSH were separated on oxycellulose and CMC columns. They were identified by their optical density at 280 mμ, adrenal ascorbic acid depletion in rats and the melanophore effect in tree frogs. ACTH and alpha-MSH elicited both ascorbic acid depletion and melanosis, and beta-MSH melanosis only. The significance of these overlapping reactions is discussed in the light of the recently discovered amino acid sequence of the 3 peptide hormones. The melanophore reaction is based upon the sequence of the 7 amino acids:
The ascorbic acid depletion is based on at least 3 additional amino acids preceding the above in the chain: Ser-Tyr-Ser.
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