Solubilisation partial characterisation of the α‐MSH receptor on primary rat Schwann cells

Abstract
The ACTH/MSH4–10 melanocortin core peptide sequence possesses neurotrophic properties in peripheral nerve. During functional neuroanatomical recovery after damage to peripheral nerves, Schwann cells play a significant role in facilitating regeneration. Here we employ a modified super‐potent α‐MSH analogue to solubilise α‐MSH receptor proteins from cultured primary rat Schwann cells. [125I‐Tyr2,Nle4,d‐Phe7,ATB‐Lys11]‐α‐MSH photoaffinity labelled proteins from Schwann cells were analyzed by SDS‐PAGE followed by autoradiography. The results indicate that the α‐MSH receptor proteins labelled have a molecular weight of 42–45 kDa. These data are the first to demonstrate solubilisation and characterisation of α‐MSH receptors from non‐melanoma cells.