A homodimer of the beta-subunits of inhibin A stimulates the secretion of pituitary follicle stimulating hormone

A 24,000 Dalton protein with follicle stimulating hormone (FSH)-releasing activity, named activin, has been characterized previously from porcine follicular fluid as a heterodimer composed of the beta-subunits of inhibins A and B linked by disulfide bond(s) [Ling et al. (1986) Nature, in press]. In this paper we report the isolation of another 24,000 Dalton protein with FSH-releasing activity from porcine follicular fluid, using successive steps of heparin-Sepharose affinity chromatography, gel filtration on Sephacryl S-200, and four steps of reversed-phase HPLC, followed by preparative sodium dodecyl-sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis chromatography. Based on the molecular weight of the isolated molecule and its deduced NH2-terminal sequence, we propose that this second FSH-releasing substance present in porcine follicular fluid is a homodimeric protein composed of two beta-subunits of inhibin A joined together by disulfide bond(s). The name homo-activin-A is proposed for this substance.

Pituitary FSH is released by a heterodimer of the beta-subunits from the two forms of inhibin

Inhibin is a gonadal protein that specifically inhibits the secretion of pituitary follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH). Two forms of inhibin (A and B) have been purified from porcine follicular fluid and characterized as heterodimers of relative molecular mass (Mr) 32,000 (ref. 2). Each inhibin is comprised of an identical alpha-subunit of Mr 18,000 and a distinct but related beta-subunit of Mr 13,800-14,700 linked by interchain disulphide bond(s). Throughout the purification of inhibins, we consistently observed two fractions which stimulated the secretion of pituitary FSH. We report here the isolation of one of the FSH-releasing proteins; it has a Mr of 24,000 and its N-terminal sequences up to residue 32 are identical to those of each beta-subunit of inhibins A and B. In the presence of reducing agents, SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis resolves the FSH-releasing substance into two subunits which are identical in their migration behaviour to the reduced beta-subunits of inhibins A and B. Based on the N-terminal sequence data and Mr of the intact and reduced molecules, we propose that the FSH-releasing substance, which is active in picomolar concentrations, is a heterodimeric protein composed of the two beta-subunits of inhibins A and B linked by interchain disulphide bond(s). The structural organization of the FSH-releasing substance is homologous to that of transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta), which also possesses FSH-releasing activity in the same bioassay. We suggest that the substance be called activin to signify the fact that it has opposite biological effects to inhibin.

Diversity of human gamma-globin gene loci including a quadruplicated arrangement

A quadruplicated gamma-globin gene as a (5'-G gamma-gamma-gamma-A gamma-3') was detected in an adult Chinese during a survey designed to detect G gamma- and A gamma-globin genes in Japanese. Five triplicated (-G gamma-gamma-A gamma-) and two single (-gamma-) haplotypes were also detected in 103 healthy adult Japanese. All of the unusual chromosomes appeared to reflect an unequal but homologous crossover between G gamma- and A gamma-globin genes. A new Bgl II polymorphic site located around the 3' terminal region of the G gamma-globin gene was also discovered.

A new hemoglobin variant, hemoglobin Nunobiki [alpha 141 (HC3) Arg----Cys]. Notable influence of the carboxy-terminal cysteine upon various physico-chemical characteristics of hemoglobin

A new hemoglobin variant, hemoglobin (Hb) Nunobiki, was detected in a Japanese male with marginal erythrocytosis. The Hb Nunobiki component amounted to 13.1% of the total hemoglobin. Structural analysis of this variant established the substitution of a cysteine for an arginine at the carboxy terminus of the alpha-chain (alpha 141). The oxygen equilibrium curves of Hb Nunobiki revealed extremely high oxygen affinity with a reduced Hill coefficient n, a decreased alkaline Bohr effect, and a decreased 2,3-diphosphoglyceric acid effect. The isoelectric point of the Hb Nunobiki changed during storage, although the oxyhemoglobin state was maintained. These findings could be accounted for by the specific characteristics of a newly introduced cysteinyl residue. Cysteinyl residue at alpha 141 in Hb Nunobiki did not seem to be involved in the formation of either intermolecular or intramolecular disulfide bonds under physiologic conditions. The low proportion of Hb Nunobiki (13.1%) in the propositus was also discussed after it was verified that he exhibited four alpha-globin genes per diploid cell.

Hb Albany-Suma (alpha 11 [A9] Lys----Asn), a hemoglobin variant with slightly elevated oxygen affinity in Japan

A fast-moving abnormal hemoglobin was detected in a heterozygous condition from a patient with benign goiter. The hemoglobin has a slight but significant high oxygen affinity. The patient does not show any hematologic abnormality. Structural analysis indicated that a lysine residue normally present at alpha 11 was substituted by an asparagine residue. This substitution which has not been described previously was discovered coincidentally by another laboratory (1). The new variant has been named Hb Albany-Suma to denote the origin of the variant in both the United States and Japan.

Hemoglobin takamatsu (beta 120 (GH 3) Lys leads to Gln): a new abnormal hemoglobin detected in three unrelated families in the takamatsu area of shikoku

A survey of hemoglobinopathies which was carried out in the Takamatsu district during the period from January to August 1979 detected six families with abnormal hemoglobins. Approximately 6010 inhabitants were screened. Three of these families had the same new Hb variant (Hb Takamatsu beta 120 Lys leads to Gln) that has not been previously reported. Existence of a blood relationship among these three families could not be established even after careful family studies. This abnormal hemoglobin was not associated with adverse symptoms and gave normal hematologic findings in the carriers. The isopropranol test was negative, oxygen affinity was within the normal range, and biosynthetic ratio in reticulocytes was around 1.0. One of the difficulties in the structural analysis of this hemoglobin was related to complete superposition of abnormal beta XT-12b,13 on a beta T-8,9 peptide in the fingerprint of the trypsin digest of aminoethylated aberrant beta X chain. This was overcome by collection of abnormal tryptic beta core (beta XT-10-13) from unmodified beta X chain, and subsequent digestion by chymotrypsin. Edman analysis of the chymotryptic peptides thus obtained successfully confirmed the substitution to be beta 120 Lys leads to Gln.