METABOLISM IN VITRO OF TRITIATED ADRENOCORTICOTROPIC HORMONE

Abstract

Adrenocorticotrophic hormone (ACTH) labeled with tritium has been prepared with a specific radioactivity of approximately 4000 d.p.m./μg. The tritiated trophin showed biological activity and appeared to be bound to the cells of the adrenal gland. Data indicating that the adrenal cortex can inactivate ACTH were obtained; whether such inactivation is due to binding or enzymatic degradation has not been illustrated. Attempts to demonstrate that the adrenal gland could acetylate the N-terminal serine residue of ACTH failed.