Endocrine Abstracts

We have recently reported that a novel protease found on the surface of cells in the zona glomerulosa of the adrenal cortex specifically cleaves pro-gamma-melanotropin (pro-gamma-MSH) generating the adrenal mitogen, pro-opiomelanocortin, POMC(1-52). RT-PCR of mRNA isolated separately from the pars intermedia and pars distalis suggested that this protease is also expressed in both parts of the pituitary gland but surprisingly confocal microscopy in situ hybridisation located it...