Parathymosin alpha: a peptide from rat tissues with structural homology to prothymosin alpha.

Abstract

A peptide, parathymosin alpha, containing approximately equal to 105 amino acid residues, has been isolated from rat thymus, and the sequence of the first 30 residues at the NH2 terminus has been determined. In this region, it shows 43% structural identity with thymosin alpha 1 and prothymosin alpha. The common sequences do not include residues 2-9, which accounts for the poor reactivity of parathymosin alpha with an antibody directed against this epitope in thymosin alpha 1. Parathymosin alpha appears to modulate the action of prothymosin alpha in protecting sensitive strains of mice against opportunistic infection with Candida albicans.

• Authors: A A Haritos, S B Salvin, R Blacher, S Stein, B L Horecker
• Journal: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America (Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A) Vol. 82 Issue 4 Pg. 1050-3 (Feb 1985) ISSN: 0027-8424 [Print] United States
• PMID: 3856246 (Publication Type: Comparative Study, Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Adjuvants, Immunologic
• Amino Acids
• Protein Precursors
• prothymosin alpha
• Thymosin
• parathymosin alpha

Topics

• Adjuvants, Immunologic
• Amino Acid Sequence
• Amino Acids (analysis)
• Animals
• Candidiasis (prevention & control)
• Immunity (drug effects)
• Mice
• Protein Precursors (pharmacology)
• Rats
• Thymosin (analogs & derivatives, isolation & purification, pharmacology)
• Thymus Gland (analysis)
• Tissue Distribution