title: Functional amyloids as natural storage of peptide hormones in pituitary secretory granules.
abstract: Amyloids are highly organized cross-beta-sheet-rich protein or peptide aggregates that are associated with pathological conditions including Alzheimer's disease and type II diabetes. However, amyloids may also have a normal biological function, as demonstrated by fungal prions, which are involved in prion replication, and the amyloid protein Pmel17, which is involved in mammalian skin pigmentation. We found that peptide and protein hormones in secretory granules of the endocrine system are stored in an amyloid-like cross-beta-sheet-rich conformation. Thus, functional amyloids in the pituitary and other organs can contribute to normal cell and tissue physiology.
authors: Laboratory of Physical Chemistry, Eidgenössische Technische Hochschule (ETH) Zürich, Wolfgang-Paulistrasse 10, CH-8093 Zürich, Switzerland.
authors: Samir K
authors: SK
authors: Maji
authors: Marilyn H
authors: MH
authors: Perrin
authors: Michael R
authors: MR
authors: Sawaya
authors: Sebastian
authors: S
authors: Jessberger
authors: Krishna
authors: K
authors: Vadodaria
authors: Robert A
authors: RA
authors: Rissman
authors: Praful S
authors: PS
authors: Singru
authors: K Peter R
authors: KP
authors: Nilsson
authors: Rozalyn
authors: R
authors: Simon
authors: David
authors: D
authors: Schubert
authors: David
authors: D
authors: Eisenberg
authors: Jean
authors: J
authors: Rivier
authors: Paul
authors: P
authors: Sawchenko
authors: Wylie
authors: W
authors: Vale
authors: Roland
authors: R
authors: Riek
mesh_terms: D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D000682:Amyloid / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D002470:Cell Survival; D003346:Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D006495:Heparin, Low-Molecular-Weight / Q000737:chemistry; D006801:Humans; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D051379:Mice; D009474:Neurons / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology; D036361:Peptide Hormones / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism; D010902:Pituitary Gland / Q000737:chemistry*; D010903:Pituitary Gland, Anterior / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D010904:Pituitary Gland, Posterior / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D010907:Pituitary Hormones / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism; D011487:Protein Conformation; D051381:Rats; D022142:Secretory Vesicles / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism; D012756:Sheep; D054832:Urocortins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D001615:beta-Endorphin / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000682:Amyloid; D006495:Heparin, Low-Molecular-Weight; D036361:Peptide Hormones; D010907:Pituitary Hormones; D054832:Urocortins; D001615:beta-Endorphin; D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone; D003346:Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone