Affinity labeling of ACTH receptors in bovine adrenal cortex membranes.

Adrenocorticotropin labeled with 125I at Tyr23 [(125I-Tyr23]ACTH) was prepared by radioiodination of ACTH1-39 followed by reverse phase HPLC purification. When incubated with bovine adrenal cortical membranes, the radioligand bound specifically to a 40-kDa membrane protein as revealed by affinity labeling. This result indicates that the bovine adrenal ACTH receptor, whose identification and characterization have proved difficult, has an Mr of about 40,000.