Amino acid sequence of rat .alpha.-lactalbumin: a unique .alpha.-lactalbumin

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Abstract
The amino acid sequence of rat .alpha.-lactalbumin was determined. Unlike other .alpha.-lactalbumins which contain 122 or 123 amino acids, rat .alpha.-lactalbumin is unique in that it contains 140 amino acids. The extra amino acids are a 17 amino acid extension at the carboxyl terminus. The amino acid sequence of this extension is Gly124-Ala-Pro-Ala-Leu-Val-Val130-Pro-Ala-Leu-Asp-Gly135-Glu-Thr-Pro-Val-Pro140. The extension is proline rich, which may contribute to the anomalous structural properties of rat .alpha.-lactalbumin. The amino acid sequence from residues 1 to 123 is similar to that of other .alpha.-lactalbumins. One possible explanation for the 17 amino acid extension is a mutation at the termination codon.