Identification of the acyltransferase that octanoylates ghrelin, an appetite-stimulating peptide hormone
- 1Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA.
- 0Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA.
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View abstract on PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.Scientists discovered Ghrelin O-Acyltransferase (GOAT), an enzyme essential for activating the appetite-stimulating hormone ghrelin. This finding may lead to new obesity treatments by targeting GOAT to reduce appetite.
Area Of Science
- Biochemistry
- Endocrinology
- Molecular Biology
Background
- Ghrelin, an appetite-stimulating peptide hormone, requires acylation at Serine-3 for its endocrine functions.
- This acylation involves attachment of an eight-carbon fatty acid, octanoate.
Purpose Of The Study
- To identify the enzyme responsible for the octanoylation of ghrelin.
- To characterize the identified enzyme and its role in ghrelin activation.
Main Methods
- Genome analysis to identify potential acyltransferase candidates.
- Coexpression of candidate enzymes with prepro-ghrelin in cultured endocrine cells.
- Assay of GOAT activity and identification of conserved catalytic residues.
Main Results
- Ghrelin O-Acyltransferase (GOAT) was identified as the enzyme that octanoylates ghrelin at Serine-3.
- GOAT is a polytopic membrane-bound enzyme belonging to a family of acyltransferases.
- GOAT activity depends on conserved catalytic residues (asparagine and histidine).
- GOAT mRNA expression is primarily localized in the stomach and intestine.
Conclusions
- GOAT is the specific enzyme responsible for ghrelin octanoylation.
- The identification of GOAT provides a target for developing therapies to manage appetite and obesity.
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