Identification and partial characterization of a 25K protein structurally similar to prolactin.

Peptide mapping of individual pituitary proteins within the gel after separation by electrophoresis in NaDodSO4-polyacrylamide gels has revealed a high-molecular-weight (mol wt) protein whose fingerprint is similar to that of prolactin (PRL). This protein is approximately 4000 greater in mol wt than the traditional pituitary PRL, but does not appear to be the latter's prohormone. Its concentration ranged from 3 to 15% of the major PRL protein in the pituitary glands of several species examined. The protein isolated from sheep pituitary glands partly cross-reacted with a polyclonal antibody raised against the main PRL, but the material from mouse pituitary glands was completely noncross-reactive. The substance eluted from denaturing gels failed to significantly stimulate mucosal growth in the crop sac of the pigeons, a commonly used test for PRL's bioactivity. Its biological activities remain to be characterized.