Division of Medicinal Chemistry--endothelins

The endothelins are a family of three potent vasoactive peptides, ET-1, -2 and -3, which comprise 21 amino acids and contain two disulfide bridges between cysteine residues. They were originally isolated from human vascular endothelial cells. Two endothelin receptor subtypes, A and B (ETA and ETB, respectively) have also been identified, although their function still requires further clarification. A brief overview of this field, particularly in terms of the pharmacology and physiology of endothelins, was given by a number of the speakers, who also focused on the recent developments and discoveries within their own projects.