Endocrine Abstracts

Growth hormone (GH) signals through the GH receptor (GHR), a member of the cytokine receptor superfamily. The extracellular domain of the GHR exists as a soluble form known as the GH binding protein (GHBP). The GHBP is either derived from the GHR by proteolysis (man, rabbit) or from the GHR gene by alternative splicing (rodents). The GHBP circulates in blood and modulates GH action by i) altering GH kinetics, ii) competing with GHRs for ligand, and iii) unproductive GHR/GHBP h...

Introduction: We have generated a truncated Growth Hormone Receptor (GHR) fused to the cell membrane by a glycosyl phosphatidylinositol anchor (GHR-GPI). The protein consists of the complete extracellular domain of the GHR, but lacks the intracellular domain, and we predict it would act as a GH antagonist. Aim: To test if partially-purified soluble GHR-GPI could re-insert into CHO cell membranes. Material and methods: Membrane preparations were made from CHO cells stably expre...