Isolation and structural characterization of a novel peptide related to γ‐melanocyte stimulating hormone from the brain of the leech Theromyzon tessulatum

Abstract
This paper reports the purification of a novel pro‐opiomelanocortin derivative peptide (a γ‐melanocyte stimulating hormone‐like (γ‐MSH‐like) molecule) from the brain of the leech Theromyzon tessulatum. After reverse‐phase HPLC purification, the sequence of the γ‐MSH‐like peptide (YVMGHFRWDKFamide) was established by a combination of automated Edman degradation, electrospray mass spectrometry measurement, enzymatic treatment and co‐elution experiments in reverse‐phase HPLC with synthetic peptides.