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Ghrelin: structure and function.

Masayasu Kojima¹, Kenji Kangawa

¹Molecular Genetics, Institute of Life Science, Kurume University, Hyakunenkouen 1-1, Kurume, Fukuoka 839-0864, Japan. mkojima@lsi.kurume-u.ac.jp

Physiological Reviews

|March 25, 2005

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Researchers discovered ghrelin, a stomach hormone that stimulates growth hormone (GH) release and appetite. This peptide hormone plays a key role in regulating GH and maintaining energy balance in vertebrates.

Area of Science:

Endocrinology
Neuroscience
Molecular Biology

Background:

Growth hormone secretagogues (GHSs) are synthetic molecules that stimulate pituitary growth hormone (GH) release.
These compounds act via the GHS receptor (GHS-R), a G protein-coupled receptor.
The endogenous ligand for GHS-R was recently discovered.

Purpose of the Study:

To identify and characterize the endogenous ligand for the GHS-R.
To understand the physiological roles of this newly discovered ligand.

Main Methods:

Utilized a reverse pharmacology approach with a stable cell line expressing GHS-R.
Purified the endogenous ligand from rat stomach extracts.

Main Results:

Related Experiment Videos

Identified and purified a novel peptide hormone from rat stomach, named ghrelin.

Ghrelin is acylated on its third amino acid (serine or threonine), a modification crucial for its activity.

Ghrelin stimulates GH release and appetite by acting on the hypothalamus.

Ghrelin is secreted from the stomach during fasting, signaling hunger.

Conclusions:

Ghrelin is a key regulator of GH release, complementing the action of hypothalamic GH-releasing hormone.
Ghrelin acts as a peripheral hunger signal, influencing energy homeostasis.
This discovery highlights the stomach as a source of endocrine regulation for both GH secretion and appetite control.