Corticotropin and beta-endorphin: construction and analysis of recombinant DNA complementary to mRNA for the common precursor.

A cDNA fragment synthesized from mouse mRNA (ACTH/LPH mRNA) that codes for the precursor polypeptide containing corticotropin (ACTH), beta-lipotropin (LPH), and several other peptides has been cloned in bacteria. The mRNA was enriched for ACTH/LPH mRNA translational activity (to about 75%) prior to cDNA synthesis. It appears to contain about 1200 bases, of which approximately 450 bases are not translated. The cloned DNA fragment is complementary to the region of the mRNA coding for the protein fragment beta-LPH-(44--90); this contains all of the amino acids of [Met]-enkephalin (residues 61--65 of beta-LPH), most of the amino acids of beta-melanocyte-stimulating hormone, and all but the carboxy-terminal amino acid of beta-endorphin. Based on assignment of the amino acid sequence of mouse beta-LPH from the nucelic acid sequence, it appears that there is extensive homology of mouse beta-LPH with human and porcine beta-LPH. The data also establish the linkage between beta-melanocyte-stimulating hormone and beta-endorphin as a Lys-Arg sequence. It is hoped that this cloned DNA can be used as a probe to study the expression and structure of the ACTH/LPH gene.