Endocrine Abstracts

A complex network of cell-cell communication system by peptide hormones works for maintaining the mammalian homeostatic balance. To further clarify the intricate mechanisms of the regulation, it is important to discover unidentified bioactive peptides. For this purpose, we have established our own methods for isolating and sequencing of peptides in pico mole quantities. By using these methods, we discovered novel bioactive peptides such as neuromedins, three natriuretic peptid...

K Kangawa, National Cardiovascular Center Research Institute, Suita, Osaka, Japan AbstractDr Kangawahas discovered novel bioactive peptides by establishing his original method for exploring trace amounts of peptides in order to elucidate the mechanisms of intercellular communication. In the course of these studies, he discovered and determined the chemical structures of three natriuretic peptides: ANP (1984), BNP ...

Involvement of BMP-3b (also called GDF-10) in osteogenesis, embryogenesis and adipogenesis has been reported to date. However, the functional receptors and intracellular signaling of BMP-3b have yet to be determined. In the present study, we studied the cellular mechanism of BMP-3b in osteoblast differentiation using mouse myoblastic C2C12 cells, which show osteoblasitc differentiation in response to osteogenetic BMP ligands. BMP-3b stimulated activin/TGF-β-responsive pro...

Ghrelin requires a fatty acid modification for binding to the GH secretagogue receptor. Octanoylation of the Ser3 residue of ghrelin is essential for ghrelin-mediated stimulation of GH secretion and regulation of energy homeostasis via increased food intake and adiposity. Other than octanoylation (C8:0), the hormone is subject to other types of acyl modification, decanoylation (C10:0), and possibly decenoylation (C10:1). The fatty acid substrate that contributes to ghrelin acy...