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A parathyroid hormone-related protein implicated in malignant hypercalcemia: cloning and expression
Science (New York, N.Y.)
|August 21, 1987
Summary
Researchers identified a new hormone responsible for humoral hypercalcemia of malignancy. This previously unrecognized hormone plays a role in both normal and abnormal calcium metabolism.
Area of Science:
- Endocrinology
- Oncology
- Molecular Biology
Background:
- Humoral hypercalcemia of malignancy (HHM) is a frequent complication in lung and other cancers.
- HHM is caused by tumor-secreted factors affecting bone and kidney calcium regulation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To isolate and characterize the complementary DNA (cDNA) of a suspected hypercalcemia factor.
- To express the active protein encoded by the cloned cDNA in mammalian cells.
Main Methods:
- Isolation of full-length cDNA clones encoding the hypercalcemia factor.
- Expression of the cloned DNA in mammalian cells to produce the active protein.
Main Results:
- The isolated clones encode a prepro peptide (36 amino acids) and a mature protein (141 amino acids).
- The mature protein exhibits significant homology to parathyroid hormone in its amino-terminal region.
Conclusions:
- A novel hormone, potentially responsible for HHM, has been identified.
- This hormone may be implicated in both normal and pathological calcium homeostasis.