Work

Complete amino acid sequence of bovine thymosin beta 4: a thymic hormone that induces terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase activity in thymocyte populations.

Year: 1981

Type: article

Abstract: The amino acid sequence of thymosin beta 4, a polypeptide isolated from calf thymus, was determined. Thymosin beta 4 is composed of 43 amino acid residues and has a molecular weight of 4982 and an isoelectric point of 5.1. The NH2 terminus of the peptide is blocked by an acetyl group. This molecule induces expression of terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase (DNA nucleotidylexotransferase, EC 2.7.7.31) in transferase-negative murine thymocytes in vivo and in citro. Thus, it appears that thymosin beta 4 acts on lymphoid stem cells and may control the early stages of the maturation process of thymus-dependent lymphocytes. This peptide is one of several present in thymosin fraction 5 that participates in the regulation, differentiation, and function of thymus-dependent thymocytes.

Source: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences

DOI: 10.1073/pnas.78.2.1162

Authors: T L Low, S K Hu, A L Goldstein

Institution: George Washington University

Language: English

Topic: T-cell and B-cell Immunology

Subfield: Immunology

Field: Immunology and Microbiology

Domain: Life Sciences

Open Access status: green

Funders: Battelle, National Cancer Institute

Award: CHEMICAL AND IMMUNOLOGICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF THYMOSIN