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Isolation and thin-layer chromatographic identification of several peptides with NH2-terminal tryptophan and their histochemical demonstration in the ACTH cells of the rat hypophysis

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Summary

Methods for the isolation and thin-layer chromatographic identification of amino-terminal tryptophyl-peptides presumably responsible for histochemical tryptophyl-peptide reactions in the ACTH cells of the rat hypophysis are described. In the hypophyseal extract several tryptophylpeptide bands — depending on the homogenization solution — were demonstrated on thin-layer chromatograms. Tryptophyl-peptides were demonstrated from their fluorescence induced 1) with glyoxylic acid (glyoxylic acid introduced into the homogenization solution), 2) by exposure of the chromatographic plates to combined formaldehyde and chloral vapour or 3) by exposure to combined formaldehyde and acetyl chloride vapour. A positive PAS reaction was demonstrated in some tryptophyl-peptide bands. Thus, some tryptophyl-peptides seem to contribute to the observed PAS positivity of the ACTH cells.

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This investigation was supported by grants from the Jalmari and Rauha Ahokas Foundation and the J.K. Paasikivi Foundation

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Partanen, S. Isolation and thin-layer chromatographic identification of several peptides with NH2-terminal tryptophan and their histochemical demonstration in the ACTH cells of the rat hypophysis. Histochemistry 56, 147–154 (1978). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00508440

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