Abstract
Small synthetic molecules called growth-hormone secretagogues (GHS) stimulate the release of growth hormone (GH) from the pituitary. They act through the GHS-receptor (GHS-R), a G-protein-coupled receptor. We purified and identified the endogenous ligand for the GHS-R and named it “ghrelin,” after a word root (“ghre”) in Proto-Indo-European languages meaning “grow”. Ghrelin is a peptide hormone in which the third amino acid, usually a serine but in some species a threonine, is modified by a fatty acid; this modification is essential for ghrelin’s activity. Ghrelin is an essential hormone for maintaining GH release and energy homeostasis in vertebrates.
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Kojima, M., Hosoda, H., Kaiya, H., Kangawa, K. (2004). Discovery of Ghrelin, an Endogenous Ligand for the Growth-Hormone Secret Agogue Receptor. In: Ghigo, E., Benso, A., Broglio, F. (eds) Ghrelin. Endocrine Updates, vol 23. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/1-4020-7971-0_2
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/1-4020-7971-0_2
Publisher Name: Springer, Boston, MA
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