Amino acid sequence of a unique neuronal protein: rat olfactory marker protein.

A neuron-specific protein, the olfactory marker protein (OMP), has been sequenced. This was achieved by gas phase sequencing of peptides isolated by HPLC following chemical and enzymatic cleavages of the intact rat protein. The amino terminus of the intact protein is acetylated. This has been determined by fast atom bombardment mass spectrometry of the amino terminal dodecapeptide isolated following BrCN cleavage of the OMP. Comparison of the sequence reported here with over 3000 protein sequences stored in the NBRF protein data base indicates no significant homology with any previously sequenced protein. This, coupled with the occurrence of OMP only in mature olfactory neurons of many vertebrate species, suggests that this protein has a olfactory neurons of many vertebrate species, suggests that this protein has a unique function in the metabolism of these neurons.