Convulsant peptides related to corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF).

Abstract

Corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) and its related peptides have some conserved primary regions. We have taken an interest in the characteristic conserved sequence, Pro-Pro-Ile-Ser, which is located in the proximal N-terminal region of the CRF family. This sequence is not included in any other biologically active peptide and protein. Biological function of this N-terminal region has not become known yet. We synthesized seventeen peptide fragments of human CRF and sauvagine which involved either this entire N-terminal sequence or part of it and determined their behavioural effect after intracerebroventricular injections to mice. Several peptides which included the Pro-Pro-Ile region as the N-terminal segment and their caused a transient convulsion dose-dependently. H-Pro-Pro-Ile-OH (human CRF(4-6)) exhibited the strongest effect among these active peptides. However, these convulsant peptides did not affect the secretion of immunoreactive corticotropin in rats.

• Authors: M Nomizu, M Miyamoto
• Journal: Brain research (Brain Res) Vol. 505 Issue 2 Pg. 326-8 (Dec 29 1989) ISSN: 0006-8993 [Print] Netherlands
• PMID: 2598051 (Publication Type: Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Convulsants
• Peptide Fragments
• Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone

Topics

• Amino Acid Sequence
• Animals
• Convulsants (chemical synthesis, pharmacology)
• Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone (analogs & derivatives, pharmacology)
• Humans
• Injections, Intraventricular
• Mice
• Peptide Fragments (chemical synthesis, pharmacology)
• Rats
• Rats, Inbred Strains