Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 28, 2026
11:36
A RAPID Method for Blood Processing to Increase the Yield of Plasma Peptide Levels in Human Blood
Published on: April 28, 2016
Structure, regulation and function of ghrelin
Takahiro Sato1, Yuki Nakamura, Yuki Shiimura
1Institute of Life Science, Kurume University, Kurume 839-0864, Japan. satou_takahiro@kurume-u.ac.jp
Journal of Biochemistry
|November 2, 2011
Summary
Ghrelin, a stomach hormone, regulates appetite and growth hormone release. Its fatty acid modification, catalyzed by ghrelin-O-acyl transferase, is crucial for these functions, though further research is needed.
Area of Science:
- Endocrinology
- Molecular Biology
- Gastroenterology
Background:
- Ghrelin is a peptide hormone produced in the stomach.
- It functions as an endogenous ligand for an orphan G-protein-coupled receptor.
- Ghrelin exists in acylated and des-acyl forms, with acylation critical for its biological activity.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the current understanding of ghrelin's structure, regulation, and function.
- To provide a foundation for future researchers in the ghrelin field.
- To highlight areas requiring further investigation.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of existing research on ghrelin.
- Synthesis of information on ghrelin biosynthesis and function.
- Analysis of the role of ghrelin-O-acyl transferase.
Main Results:
- Ghrelin's n-octanoyl modification on serine-3 is essential for growth hormone release and appetite stimulation.
- Ghrelin-O-acyl transferase catalyzes the critical acyl-modification of ghrelin.
- Despite advancements, many aspects of ghrelin's function and biosynthesis remain unclear.
Conclusions:
- Ghrelin's acyl-modification is a key regulatory mechanism.
- Further research is necessary to fully elucidate ghrelin's complex roles.
- This review serves as a guide for future scientific endeavors in ghrelin research.
Related Concept Videos
01:30Regulation of Food Intake
Short-term regulation of food intake primarily involves neural signals from the gastrointestinal (GI) tract, blood nutrient levels, and GI tract hormones. Communication between the gut and brain via vagal nerve fibers plays a significant role in evaluating the contents of the gut. Clinical studies have shown that protein ingestion produces a more prolonged response in these nerve fibers compared to an equivalent amount of glucose. Additionally, the activation of stretch receptors caused by GI...
01:40Hormonal Regulation
Hormones regulate a significant portion of digestion through activation of the neuroendocrine system. The neuroendocrine system of digestion contains many different hormones all with multiple functions that are both, directly and indirectly, involved in digestion.
01:33Hormonal Regulation
The renin-aldosterone system is an endocrine system which guides the renal absorption of water and electrolytes, thus managing blood pressure and osmoregulation. Activation of the system begins in the kidneys with a small cluster of cells adjacent to the afferent and efferent blood vessels of the renal corpuscle. As the nephrons are filtering blood, juxtaglomerular cells monitor blood pressure. If they detect a decrease in pressure, they release the hormone renin into the bloodstream.
01:25Regulation of the Digestive System
Digestive activity regulation hinges on three primary components. Activation is prompted by a multitude of mechanical and chemical indicators, primarily detected by receptors within the stomach and intestines' walls. These receptors predominantly respond to factors such as mechanical stretching of the organ walls, changes in pH and osmolarity, and the presence of digesting materials and their by-products.
The effectors in this regulation system are glands and smooth muscles. Activation of these...
The effectors in this regulation system are glands and smooth muscles. Activation of these...
01:19Regulation of Hormone Secretion
Regulation of hormone secretion is a finely tuned orchestration driven by various types of stimuli, encompassing neural, humoral, and hormonal signals. Environmental cues instigate neural stimuli, where action potentials traverse nerve fibers to reach their designated targets. An illustrative scenario is the body's response to stress, wherein the sympathetic nervous system releases epinephrine from the adrenal glands, inducing the well-known 'fight or flight' reaction.
Humoral stimuli,...
Humoral stimuli,...
01:25Hormones Secreted by the Stomach
Enteroendocrine cells, accounting for only 1% of stomach epithelial cells, play a significant role in digestion and are classified by their digestive hormone secretions.
Each of these hormones secreted by different enteroendocrine cells plays a unique role in digestion. Here are a few examples:
Each of these hormones secreted by different enteroendocrine cells plays a unique role in digestion. Here are a few examples: