SYNTHESIS AND PROPERTIES OF THE PEPTIDE CORRESPONDING TO THE ACTH-LIKE SEQUENCE OF HUMAN IMMUNOGLOBULIN-G1

The decapeptide Val-Lys-Lys-Pro-Gly-Ser-Ser-Val-Lys-Val (termed immuno corticotropin) corresponding to the sequence 11-20 of the variable par t of the human immunoglobulin G1 heavy chain was synthesized, The ACTH -like peptide was found to have an ability to increase body temperatur e. Intracerebroventricular injection of 5-10 mug of the peptide to rab bits induced an elevation of body temperature by 0.7-1.3-degrees-C. Th e ACTH-like peptide was shown to compete with [I-125]-ACTH (13-24)for binding to receptors on murine brain synaptic membranes and to activat e adenylate cyclase of these membranes.