Complete amino acid sequence of bovine thymosin beta 4: a thymic hormone that induces terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase activity in thymocyte populations.
Low. T L TL; Hu. S K SK; Goldstein. A L AL
Key Findings
- Full 43‑amino‑acid sequence and molecular weight (4982 Da) were identified
- The peptide’s N‑terminus is acetylated and its isoelectric point is 5.1
- It induces terminal deoxynucleotyl transferase activity in murine thymocytes, hinting at a role in early lymphocyte maturation
Practical Outcomes
- The paper mainly provides basic biochemical info and hints that thymosin beta‑4 may affect early immune cells, but it offers no dosing, safety, or human efficacy data, so it isn’t directly useful for creating or optimizing a biohacking protocol.
Summary
Scientists mapped the exact 43‑amino‑acid sequence of a calf thymus peptide called thymosin beta‑4, noted its size and that its start is blocked by an acetyl group, and showed it can turn on an enzyme linked to early immune cell development in mice.
Abstract
The amino acid sequence of thymosin beta 4, a polypeptide isolated from calf thymus, was determined. Thymosin beta 4 is composed of 43 amino acid residues and has a molecular weight of 4982 and an isoelectric point of 5.1. The NH2 terminus of the peptide is blocked by an acetyl group. This molecule induces expression of terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase (DNA nucleotidylexotransferase, EC 2.7.7.31) in transferase-negative murine thymocytes in vivo and in citro. Thus, it appears that thymosin beta 4 acts on lymphoid stem cells and may control the early stages of the maturation process of thymus-dependent lymphocytes. This peptide is one of several present in thymosin fraction 5 that participates in the regulation, differentiation, and function of thymus-dependent thymocytes.
Study Information
pubmed
1981
10.1073/pnas.78.2.1162