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A second plasma calcium-lowering peptide from the human calcitonin precursor

Nature volume 300, pages 460–462 (1982)Cite this article

Abstract

Calcitonin is a 3,500-molecular weight (MW) polypeptide whose main function in man is to protect the skeleton during growth, pregnancy and lactation1. It is secreted by C-cells which are localized in the thyroid in mammals, but may be present mainly in the ultimobranchial body and lung of more primitive vertebrates2. The hormone is also concentrated in the hypothalamus of several vertebrate species3,4, including man5, and in the primitive brain of the chordate Ciona intestinalis6,7. Based on cloning and subsequent analysis of recombinant DNA, recently we have reported the partial nucleotide sequence of the human calcitonin precursor mRNA8,9. This study showed that calcitonin resides towards the C-terminal end of its precursor protein, flanked by cryptic peptides of unknown significance. We now report that the synthetic C-terminal flanking peptide (PDN-21) predicted from the nucleotide sequence is highly active biologically—it approaches the potency of calcitonin in reducing the level of plasma calcium. As immunological evidence suggests that PDN-21 is synthesized in vivo and circulates in man, it may represent a novel hormonal cleavage product from the human calcitonin precursor with a physiological role in Ca2+ regulation.

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Author notes

  1. John J. Reynolds: Strangeways Research Laboratory, Worts Causeway, Cambridge CB1 4RN, UK

  2. Rose E. Gaines Das: National Institute for Biological Standards and Control, Holly Hill, Hampstead, London NW3 6RB, UK

  3. Roger K. Craig: Courtauld Institute of Biochemistry, Middlesex Hospital Medical School, Mortimer Street, London W1P 7PN, UK

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Endocrine Unit, Royal Postgraduate Medical School, Du Cane Road, London, W12 0HS, UK

    Iain MacIntyre, Carmel J. Hillyard, Patricia K. Murphy, John J. Reynolds, Rose E. Gaines Das & Roger K. Craig

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  1. Iain MacIntyre
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  2. Carmel J. Hillyard
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  3. Patricia K. Murphy
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  4. John J. Reynolds
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  5. Rose E. Gaines Das
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  6. Roger K. Craig
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MacIntyre, I., Hillyard, C., Murphy, P. et al. A second plasma calcium-lowering peptide from the human calcitonin precursor. Nature 300, 460–462 (1982). https://doi.org/10.1038/300460a0

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