Melanocortin receptors: their functions and regulation by physiological agonists and antagonists |
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Authors: | ZA Abdel-Malek |
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Institution: | (1) Department of Dermatology, University of Cincinnati, PO Box 670592, 231 Albert Sabin Way, Room 7409 Cincinnati, (Ohio 45267-0592, USA), Fax: +15135580198, e-mail: abdelmza@email.uc.edu, US |
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Abstract: | The melanocortins are a family of bioactive peptides derived from proopiomelanocortin, and share significant structural similarity.
Those peptides are best known for their stimulatory effects on pigmentation and steroidogenesis. Melanocortins are synthesized
in various sites in the central nervous system and in peripheral tissues, and participate in regulating multiple physiological
functions. Research during the past decade has provided evidence that melanocortins elicit their diverse biological effects
by binding to a distinct family of G protein-coupled receptors with seven transmembrane domains. To date, five melanocortin
receptor genes have been cloned and characterized. Those receptors differ in their tissue distribution and in their ability
to recognize the various melanocortins and the physiological antagonists, agouti signaling protein and agouti-related protein.
These advances have opened new horizons for exploring the significance of melanocortins, their antagonists, and their receptors
in a variety of important physiological functions.
Received 5 October 2000; accepted 10 November 2000 |
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Keywords: | : Melanocortin receptor proopiomelanocortin melanocortin agouti signaling protein agouti-related protein |
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