Hormone-receptor-relationships: synthesis and characteristics of N-epsilon-dansyllysine 21-adrenocorticotropin-(1-24)-tetrakosipeptide

We are investigating interactions between hormones and their potential receptor molecules by means of biologically active, synthetic hormone derivatives. The substituents are so chosen that they can supply quantitative information about specific contacts or convert the hormone to an ‘affinity marker’. We describe the synthesis of N^ε-dansyllysine²¹-adrenocorticotropin-(1–24)-tetrakosipeptide. In fat cells and in adrenal cells of the rat the dansyl substituent does not seem to impair the interaction between the peptide moiety and its biological receptors. It allows for affinity studies by fluorescence depolarisation and for measurement of intramolecular and intermolecular distances by means of energy transfer (fluorescence sensibilisation).