Processing-independent analysis of peptide hormones and prohormones in plasma.
Peptide hormones are post-translationally matured before they reach a structure in which they can fulfill their biological functions. The prohormone processing may encompass a variety of endoproteolytic cleavages, N- and C-terminal trimmings, and amino acid derivatizations. The same prohormone can be variably processed in different cell types and, in addition, diseased cells often change the processing of a given precursor. The translational process is often either increased or decreased in diseased cells, which renders the ensuing modifications of the prohormone incomplete. Consequently, a variable mixture of precursors and processing-intermediates accumulates in plasma. In order to exploit disturbed posttranslational processing for diagnostic use and at the same time provide an accurate measure of the translational product, a simple analytical principle named "processing-independent analysis" (PIA) was designed. PIA-methods quantitate the total mRNA product irrespective of the degree of processing. PIA-methods have now been developed for a number of prohormones and proteins, and their diagnostic potential appears promising in diagnosis of cardiovascular disease and in several malignancies.
Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark. JPG@dadlnet.dk
Jens Peter
JP
Goetze
Ingrid
I
Hunter
Solvej Koelvraa
SK
Lippert
Linda
L
Bardram
Jens Frederik
JF
Rehfeld
D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D015870:Gene Expression; D006728:Hormones / Q000097:blood* / Q000737:chemistry; D006801:Humans; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010455:Peptides / Q000097:blood* / Q000737:chemistry; D011499:Protein Processing, Post-Translational; D017386:Sequence Homology, Amino Acid
D006728:Hormones; D010455:Peptides