Functional amyloids as natural storage of peptide hormones in pituitary secretory granules.
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.
Maji
Samir K
SK
Laboratory of Physical Chemistry, Eidgenössische Technische Hochschule (ETH) Zürich, Wolfgang-Paulistrasse 10, CH-8093 Zürich, Switzerland.
Perrin
Marilyn H
MH
Sawaya
Michael R
MR
Jessberger
Sebastian
S
Vadodaria
Krishna
K
Rissman
Robert A
RA
Singru
Praful S
PS
Nilsson
K Peter R
KP
Simon
Rozalyn
R
Schubert
David
D
Eisenberg
David
D
Rivier
Jean
J
Sawchenko
Paul
P
Vale
Wylie
W
Riek
Roland
R
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
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