Ghrelin: more than endogenous growth hormone secretagogue.
Since its discovery 10 years ago, intensive research has been performed on ghrelin. The significance of ghrelin as a growth hormone-releasing hormone, appetite regulator, energy conservator, and sympathetic nerve suppressor has now been well established. In this review, we summarize recent topics on ghrelin, such as the processing protease of the ghrelin precursor, ghrelin O-acyl transaferase, ghrelin knockout and transgenic mice, and the molecular mechanism of ghrelin's orexigenesis.
Kojima
Masayasu
M
Molecular Genetics, Institute of Life Science, Kurume University, Kurume, Fukuoka, Japan. mkojima@lsi.kurume-u.ac.jp
Kangawa
Kenji
K
D000818:Animals; D001066:Appetite / Q000502:physiology; D004734:Energy Metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D054439:Ghrelin / Q000502:physiology*; D013007:Growth Hormone-Releasing Hormone / Q000502:physiology; D051379:Mice; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D008822:Mice, Transgenic
D054439:Ghrelin; D013007:Growth Hormone-Releasing Hormone