Biomaterial Database

Identification of separate mRNAs coding for the alpha and beta subunits of thyrotropin. 1979

N C Vamvakopoulos, and I A Kourides

A 9S mRNA, purified from mouse thyrotropic pituitary tumors by sucrose density gradient centrifugation of poly(A)-enriched mRNA, directed the synthesis of only alpha and beta subunits of thyrotropin in the reticulocyte lysate translation system. Analysis of radioiodinated 9S mRNA, repurified by oligo(dT)-cellulose chromatography and sucrose gradient centrifugation, yielded two species of RNA on urea/polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The major RNA species contained 620 nucleotides, and the minor RNA species contained 560 nucleotides. Unlabeled 9S mRNA was further purified by urea/polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis; the mRNAs were separately eluted from slices of the gel containing material migrating with an apparent length of 620 and 560 nucleotides. Translation of these mRNAs in the reticulocyte lysate showed that the longer mRNA coded for the alpha subunit and the shorter mRNA coded for the beta subunit of mouse thyrotropin. Because more alpha than beta subunit of thyrotropin was consistently synthesized, unbalanced amounts of thyrotropin subunits appear to be synthesized by translation of unbalanced amounts of individual mRNAs. We have demonstrated that the synthesis of thyrotropin is directed by two separate mRNA molecules, each coding for a different subunit of the hormone.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D008970	Molecular Weight	The sum of the weight of all the atoms in a molecule.	Molecular Weights,Weight, Molecular,Weights, Molecular
D009694	Nucleic Acid Precursors	Use for nucleic acid precursors in general or for which there is no specific heading.	Acid Precursors, Nucleic,Precursors, Nucleic Acid
D000818	Animals	Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA.	Animal,Metazoa,Animalia
D012333	RNA, Messenger	RNA sequences that serve as templates for protein synthesis. Bacterial mRNAs are generally primary transcripts in that they do not require post-transcriptional processing. Eukaryotic mRNA is synthesized in the nucleus and must be exported to the cytoplasm for translation. Most eukaryotic mRNAs have a sequence of polyadenylic acid at the 3' end, referred to as the poly(A) tail. The function of this tail is not known for certain, but it may play a role in the export of mature mRNA from the nucleus as well as in helping stabilize some mRNA molecules by retarding their degradation in the cytoplasm.	Messenger RNA,Messenger RNA, Polyadenylated,Poly(A) Tail,Poly(A)+ RNA,Poly(A)+ mRNA,RNA, Messenger, Polyadenylated,RNA, Polyadenylated,mRNA,mRNA, Non-Polyadenylated,mRNA, Polyadenylated,Non-Polyadenylated mRNA,Poly(A) RNA,Polyadenylated mRNA,Non Polyadenylated mRNA,Polyadenylated Messenger RNA,Polyadenylated RNA,RNA, Polyadenylated Messenger,mRNA, Non Polyadenylated
D013972	Thyrotropin	A glycoprotein hormone secreted by the adenohypophysis (PITUITARY GLAND, ANTERIOR). Thyrotropin stimulates THYROID GLAND by increasing the iodide transport, synthesis and release of thyroid hormones (THYROXINE and TRIIODOTHYRONINE). Thyrotropin consists of two noncovalently linked subunits, alpha and beta. Within a species, the alpha subunit is common in the pituitary glycoprotein hormones (TSH; LUTEINIZING HORMONE and FSH), but the beta subunit is unique and confers its biological specificity.	Thyroid-Stimulating Hormone,TSH (Thyroid Stimulating Hormone),Thyreotropin,Thyrotrophin,Hormone, Thyroid-Stimulating,Thyroid Stimulating Hormone
D046911	Macromolecular Substances	Compounds and molecular complexes that consist of very large numbers of atoms and are generally over 500 kDa in size. In biological systems macromolecular substances usually can be visualized using ELECTRON MICROSCOPY and are distinguished from ORGANELLES by the lack of a membrane structure.	Macromolecular Complexes,Macromolecular Compounds,Macromolecular Compounds and Complexes,Complexes, Macromolecular,Compounds, Macromolecular,Substances, Macromolecular
D051379	Mice	The common name for the genus Mus.	Mice, House,Mus,Mus musculus,Mice, Laboratory,Mouse,Mouse, House,Mouse, Laboratory,Mouse, Swiss,Mus domesticus,Mus musculus domesticus,Swiss Mice,House Mice,House Mouse,Laboratory Mice,Laboratory Mouse,Mice, Swiss,Swiss Mouse,domesticus, Mus musculus