Structure and pharmacological actions of phyllocaerulein, a caerulein-like nonapeptide: its occurrence in extracts of the skin of Phyllomedusa sauvagei and related Phyllomedusa species

Abstract

The present communication gives an account of the isolation, structure and pharmacological properties of the caerulein-like polypeptide occurring in the skin of Phyllomedusa sauvagei from north-western regions of Argentina. For the new polypeptide, a nonapeptide closely resembling caerulein both from a biological and chemical point of view, the name phyllocaerulein is proposed. This paper also describes the occurrence of phyllocaerulein or related peptides in the skin of other Phyllomedusa species. A complete description of methods used in the isolation of phyllocaerulein as well as in the determination of amino-acid composition and amino-acid sequence of the polypeptide may be found in a preceding paper dealing with the isolation and the amino acid sequence of caerulein (Anastasi, Erspamer & Endean, 1968 ; Anastasi, 1969).