Endocrine Abstracts

Lys-γ3-MSH is a melanocortin peptide derived from the C-terminal of the 16 kDa fragment of pro-opiomelanocortin (POMC). The physiological role of Lys-γ3-MSH is unclear, although it can potentiate the steroidogenic response of adrenal cortical cells to adrenocorticotrophin (ACTH). This effect appears to correlate with an ability to increase the activity of hormone sensitive lipase (HSL) and therefore the rate of cholesterol ester hydrolysis. Ligand binding studies hav...