The Complete Amino-Acid Sequence of Rat Thyrocalcitonin

Abstract

The complete amino acid sequence of rat thyrocalcitonin has been determined by automated Edman degradations of the intact molecule, a cyanogen bromide fragment, and by degradations of mixtures of peptides produced by hydrolysis of the hormone with trypsin and chymotrypsin. The sequence determined was H2N-Cys-Gly-Asn-Leu-Ser-Thr-Cys-Met-Leu-Gly-Thr-Tyr-Thr-Gln-Asp-Leu-Asn-Lys-Phe-His-Thr-Phe-Pro-Gln-Thr-Ser-Ile-Gly-Val-Gly-Ala-Pro-NH2. This sequence differs in only two positions from that found in the human hormone, i.e. leucine-16 in the rat vs phenylalanine-16 in the human, and serine-26 in the rat vs alanine-26 in the human. These similarities and differences are consistent with the previously reported immunological properties of the hormones isolated from these two species.