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Human growth hormone and placental lactogen: structural similarity
Science (New York, N.Y.)
|July 21, 1967
Insights
Researchers analyzed the initial amino acid sequences of human placental lactogen. This revealed significant similarity to human growth hormone, with 11 identical residues found.
Area of Science:
- Biochemistry
- Molecular Biology
- Endocrinology
Background:
- Human placental lactogen (hPL) is a hormone produced during pregnancy.
- Human growth hormone (hGH) plays a crucial role in growth and metabolism.
- Understanding the structural and functional relationships between hormones is vital in endocrinology.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the sequence homology between human placental lactogen and human growth hormone.
- To identify conserved regions at the amino-terminus of hPL.
Main Methods:
- Sequential analysis of the N-terminal amino acid sequence of human placental lactogen.
- Comparison of the hPL sequence with known sequences of human growth hormone.
Main Results:
- The first 17 amino acids of human placental lactogen were analyzed.
- A high degree of similarity was observed between the N-terminus of hPL and hGH.
- Specifically, 11 out of 17 residues were found to be identical between the two hormones.
Conclusions:
- The N-terminal sequence of human placental lactogen shares significant homology with human growth hormone.
- This finding suggests potential structural and functional links between hPL and hGH.
- Further research may explore the implications of this sequence similarity in hormone function and evolution.
Abstract:
Sequential analysis of the first 17 amino acids from the amino-terminus of human placental lactogen reveals similarity to the sequence of human growth hormone, 11 of the residues being identical.