Mass spectral and electrophoretic characterization of acidic peptides bound to chromatin of pea bud.

Structural features of a class of chromatin peptides are studied in the aim of understanding their mechanism of action. They have been reported as a family of small acidic peptides that can affect cell proliferation and RNA transcription. Mass spectrometry analysis has suggested some molecular models of possible sequences that might be present in this group of peptides. These sequences have been synthesised and their chromatographic and electrophoretic behaviour is compared with that obtained from peptides extracted from pea bud chromatin. In this way electric charge and hydrophilic properties of the native peptides are evaluated. On the basis of these data and those obtained from further mass spectrum analysis new models for native peptides are proposed.