title: Synthesis and secretion of gonadotropins including structure-function correlates.
abstract: The synthesis and secretion of the gonadotropic hormones involves coordination of signal transduction, gene expression, protein translation, post-translational folding and modification and finally secretion. The production of biologically active gonadotropin thus requires appropriately folded and glycosylated subunits that assemble to form the heterodimeric hormone. Here we overview recent literature on regulation of gonadotropin subunit gene expression and current understanding of the assembly and secretion of biologically active gonadotropic hormones. Finally, we discuss the therapeutic potential of understanding glycosylation function towards designing new forms of gonadotropins based on observations of physiologically relevant parameters such as age related glycosylation changes.
authors: Department of Biological Sciences, Wichita State University, Wichita, KS, USA. george.bousfield@wichita.edu
authors: George R
authors: GR
authors: Bousfield
authors: James A
authors: JA
authors: Dias
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D050260:Carbohydrate Metabolism; D002240:Carbohydrate Sequence; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D006031:Glycosylation; D006062:Gonadotropins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008958:Models, Molecular; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D011499:Protein Processing, Post-Translational; D013329:Structure-Activity Relationship
chemical_list: D006062:Gonadotropins