Structure of hypothalamic coronaro-constrictory peptide factors.

The following peptide structure in 3 of 5 coronaro-constrictory peptide factors isolated from bovine hypothalamus was determined by amino acid analysis and Edman degradation: 1) (P1)--Val-Val-Tyr-Pro-Trp; 2) (P2)--Val-Val-Tyr-Pro-Trp-Thr; 3) (P3)--Leu-Val-Val-Tyr-Pro-Trp-Thr. A computer search for these amino acid sequences revealed that these peptides represent fragments 33-37; 33-38; 32-38 of the beta-chain of bovine hemoglobin. Solid phase peptide synthesis of 2 peptides (P2 and P3) was carried out.

Recombinant human and rat ciliary neurotrophic factors.

The human ciliary neurotrophic factor (CNTF) gene was identified and cloned, based on homology with the recently cloned rat cDNA. The gene encodes a protein of 200 amino acids, which shares about 80% sequence identity with rat and rabbit CNTF and, like these homologues, lacks an apparent secretion signal sequence. The human CNTF gene, like the rat gene, appears to contain a single intron separating two protein coding exons.