title: Structure, regulation and function of ghrelin.
abstract: Ghrelin is a stomach hormone that acts as an endogenous ligand of orphan G-protein-coupled receptor. Ghrelin is a 28-amino acid peptide existing in two major forms: n-octanoyl-modified ghrelin, which possesses an n-octanoyl modification on serine-3 and des-acyl ghrelin. Fatty acid modification of ghrelin is essential for ghrelin-induced growth hormone release from the pituitary and appetite stimulation. This acyl-modification of ghrelin is catalysed by ghrelin-O-acyl transferase recently identified. Despite the number of innovative advancements in this field of research, there are still many aspects of ghrelin function and biosynthesis process that remain to be clarified. Here, we review the current understanding of the structure, regulation and function of ghrelin; this review is intended for researchers who will be involved in this field in the future.
authors: Institute of Life Science, Kurume University, Kurume 839-0864, Japan. satou_takahiro@kurume-u.ac.jp
authors: Takahiro
authors: T
authors: Sato
authors: Yuki
authors: Y
authors: Nakamura
authors: Yuki
authors: Y
authors: Shiimura
authors: Hideko
authors: H
authors: Ohgusu
authors: Kenji
authors: K
authors: Kangawa
authors: Masayasu
authors: M
authors: Kojima
mesh_terms: D000215:Acylation; D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D054439:Ghrelin / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010902:Pituitary Gland / Q000502:physiology; D010907:Pituitary Hormones / Q000378:metabolism; D013329:Structure-Activity Relationship
chemical_list: D054439:Ghrelin; D010907:Pituitary Hormones