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Melanotropin potentiating factor is the C-terminal tetrapeptide of human β-lipotropin

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Abstract

WE recently demonstrated that the molar pigmentary potency of human β-lipotropin (β-LPH) is greater than other melanocyte-stimulating hormones (MSHs) on Anolis skin; it is 2.6–4.0 times greater than α-MSH1 using the Anolis rate method of MSH bioassay2. We also found (unpublished) human β-LPH to be 2 to 4 times more potent than α-MSH using the steady state (quantal3) method. This was due to a potentiation of the MSH sequence of β-LPH (LPH47–53) by a factor associated with β-endorphin (LPH61–91). We showed that the melanotropin potentiating factor (MPF) was not the opiate peptide, 5Metenkephalin (LPH61–65)4, and now report the identification of MPF as the sequence LPH88–91.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. University Department of Dermatology, Royal Victoria Infirmary, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK

    R. J. CARTER & SAM SHUSTER

  2. Pharmaceuticals Division, Imperial Chemical Industries, Alderley Park, Cheshire, UK

    J. S. MORLEY

Authors
  1. R. J. CARTER
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  2. SAM SHUSTER
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  3. J. S. MORLEY
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CARTER, R., SHUSTER, S. & MORLEY, J. Melanotropin potentiating factor is the C-terminal tetrapeptide of human β-lipotropin. Nature 279, 74–75 (1979). https://doi.org/10.1038/279074a0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/279074a0

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