Isolation and identification of a new thymic peptide from calf thymus

Biochemistry (Mosc). 2004 Aug;69(8):921-5. doi: 10.1023/b:biry.0000040226.21454.d3.

Abstract

Various thymic peptides (including thymulin, thymic humoral factor, thymopoietin, etc.) play important roles in the process of T cell maturation and development. We isolated a new peptide from calf thymus and named it thymus activity factor II (TAF-II). A yield of 0.92 mg of TAF-II was purified from 500 g calf thymus. Analysis by LC/MSD-Trap showed the amino acid sequence of this hexapeptide to be Glu-Ala-Lys-Ser-Gln-Gly-OH with molecular weight 618.5 daltons. We have also begun to investigate the influence of TAF-II.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Animals
  • Cattle
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid
  • Humans
  • Lymphocytes / cytology
  • Lymphocytes / drug effects
  • Lymphocytes / immunology
  • Molecular Weight
  • Oligopeptides / chemistry*
  • Oligopeptides / isolation & purification*
  • Oligopeptides / pharmacology
  • Thymus Extracts / chemistry
  • Thymus Gland / chemistry*
  • Ultrafiltration

Substances

  • Oligopeptides
  • Thymus Extracts