Endocrine Abstracts

The pro-opiomelanocortin (POMC)-derived peptides, pro-gamma-MSH and Lys-gamma3-MSH, have been shown to potentiate the steroidogenic action of Adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) on the adrenal cortex. The molecular mechanisms for this potentiation are unclear, but it has been shown that gamma-MSH peptides promote mitochondrial cholesterol accumulation in the adrenal cortex by upregulating the activity of Hormone Sensitive Lipase (HSL) (1). HSL activity is regulated either by up...

Lys-gamma3-MSH is a peptide derived from the multihormone precursor protein pro-opiomelanocortin (POMC). Lys-gamma3-MSH increases cholesterol ester hydrolysis and mitochondrial cholesterol accumulation in the adrenal gland by activating the enzyme cholesterol ester hydrolase (CEH). Although the receptor through which the actions of Lys-gamma3-MSH on the adrenal gland are mediated remains to be identified, ligand binding studies suggest the existence of binding sites in adipose...