SEQUENCE HOMOLOGY OF RAT AND HUMAN HCNP PRECURSOR PROTEINS, BOVINE PHOSPHATIDYLETHANOLAMINE-BINDING PROTEIN AND RAT 23-KDA PROTEIN ASSOCIATED WITH THE OPIOID-BINDING PROTEIN

The hippocampal cholinergic neurostimulating peptide (HCNP) enhances a cetylcholine synthesis in rat medial septal tissues. We have cloned th e cDNAs of the precursor proteins of rat and human HCNP and deduced th eir respective amino acid sequences. The HCNP sequences aligned at the N-terminal regions of their precursors. The deduced amino acid sequen ces showed homology with those of the bovine brain phosphatidylethanol amine-binding protein and the rat protein associated with the opioid-b inding protein. These observations suggest that the HCNP precursor pro teins may have multiple functions.