title: N-Acetyltransferase mechanism for alpha-melanocyte stimulating hormone regulation in rat ageing.
abstract: alpha-Melanocyte stimulating hormone (alpha-MSH) is a proopiomelanocortin-derived peptide involved in such behavioural activities as arousal, grooming, memory, learning and attention. Because of these effects, alpha-MSH can be considered the 'adaptation neuropeptide'. Two alpha-MSH major forms were described: acetyl alpha-MSH and des-acetyl alpha-MSH. Since the acetylated form of alpha-MSH is biologically significantly more effective than des-acetyl alpha-MSH, we studied the activity of N-acetyltransferase, the enzyme responsible for MSH acetylation, during ageing in rat hippocampus and pituitary. We observed a substantial decrease of enzyme activity during lifetime, suggesting that the lower synthesis of the more efficient acetylated alpha-MSH form can be related to the reduced adaptive capabilities of aged subjects.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapy, University of Torino, Italy.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Cangemi
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Adage
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Morabito
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Portaleone
mesh_terms: D000375:Aging / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D001191:Arylamine N-Acetyltransferase / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000201:enzymology / Q000254:growth & development; D008297:Male; D010902:Pituitary Gland / Q000201:enzymology / Q000254:growth & development; D051381:Rats; D011921:Rats, Inbred WKY; D000521:alpha-MSH / Q000096:biosynthesis*
chemical_list: D000521:alpha-MSH; D001191:Arylamine N-Acetyltransferase