Non-Coded Biosynthesis of N-acetylaspartyl Peptides in Mouse Brain Homogenates

Abstract

N-acetylaspartate and labelled glutamate, aspartate, γ-aminobutyrate and taurine were incorporated into a number of low-molecular weight peptides in mouse brain homogenates, as detected by autoradiography on thin-layer chromatography plates. Peptide biosynthesis was dependent on N-acetylaspartate, cAMP, ATP and an ATP regenerating system. The number of peptides varied from 5 to 12 after incubation for 40 min. The original labelled amino acids were determined by re-chromatography of the acid hydrolysates of the peptides, and the probable structures (N-acetylaspartyl-glutamyl-taurine, [N-acetyl] aspartyltaurine and N-acetylaspartyl [aspartyl, glutamyl]-taurine) were assumed to be present.