Prothyrotropin-releasing hormone (pro-TRH) is initially cleaved by the prohormone convertase-1/3 (PC1/3) in the trans-Golgi network generating N- and C-terminal intermediate forms that are then packed into secretory vesicles. However, it is not known whether these peptides are differentially sorted within the secretory pathway. This is of key importance because the processing products of severa...

Human and bovine lactoferrins and their derived N-terminal peptides were giardicidal in vitro. Fe3+, but not Fe2+, protected trophozoites from both native lactoferrin and peptides, although the latter lack iron-binding sites. Other divalent metal ions protected only against native lactoferrin. Log-phase cells were more resistant to killing than stationary-phase cells. These studies suggest that...

Presentation of antigenic peptides by human leukocyte antigen class I molecules is dependent on peptide transport into the endoplasmic reticulum by the transporters associated with antigen processing (TAP) (Germain, R. N. 1994. Cell. 76:287-299). This translocation step is currently regarded as permissive for all peptides with COOH-terminal residues capable of binding to HLA class I molecules (...

Two cDNA clones containing coding information for cecropin B from the Cecropia moth (Hyalophora cecropia) were identified by means of a synthetic probe. Sequencing of the two inserts showed that cecropin B is processed from a 62-amino acid residue precursor molecule including a 26-residue leader peptide and a COOH-terminal glycine residue. The latter presumably donates the nitrogen of the amide...

The ubiquitous serine endoprotease furin has been implicated in the activation of bacterial toxins and viral glycoproteins as well as in the metastatic progression of certain tumors. Although high molecular mass bioengineered serpin inhibitors have been well characterized, no small nontoxic nanomolar inhibitors have been reported to date. Here we describe the identification of such inhibitors u...

Four unique carboxymethylcysteine-containing peptides were isolated from tryptic and chymotryptic digests of trout muscle actin carboxymethylated with iodo[2-(14)C]acetic acid in 6m-guanidinium chloride. The amino acid sequences of these peptides were determined and showed a high degree of homology with the corresponding sequences from rabbit actin. One of the radioactive peptides was the C-ter...

Familial British and familial Danish dementia (FDD) are progressive neurodegenerative disorders characterized by cerebral deposition of the amyloidogenic peptides ABri and ADan, respectively. These amyloid peptides start with an N-terminal glutamate residue, which can be posttranslationally converted into a pyroglutamate (pGlu) modified form, a mechanism which has been extensively described to ...

A high molecular weight preparation of terminal transferase containing 58,000- and 44,000-dalton peptides has been purified from calf thymus glands. The relationship of these terminal transferase peptides to the low molecular weight form was established with an immunoblot procedure using rabbit antibody directed against the homogeneous calf thymus low molecular weight terminal transferase (32,0...