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Cellular Peptide Hormone Synthesis and Secretory Pathways pp 85–96Cite as

Ghrelin: From Gene to Physiological Function

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Part of the book series: Results and Problems in Cell Differentiation ((RESULTS,volume 50))

Abstract

The discovery of ghrelin has elucidated the role of the stomach as an important organ in the regulation of growth hormone release and energy homeostasis. Ghrelin is orexigenic; it is secreted from the stomach and circulates in the blood stream under fasting conditions, indicating that it transmits a hunger signal from the periphery to the central nervous system. Ghrelin is a peptide hormone, in which serine 3 (threonine 3 in frogs) is modified by an n-octanoic acid; this modification is essential for ghrelin’s activity. Recently the enzymes responsible for the processing from the ghrelin precursor to active n-octanoyl-modified ghrelin have been identified. This review surveys the processing pathway from ghrelin gene to mature ghrelin peptide and summarizes our knowledge of the regulatory mechanism of ghrelin secretion and function.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Molecular Genetics, Institute of Life Science, Kurume University, Hyakunenkouen 1-1, Kurume, Fukuoka, 839-0864, Japan

    Masayasu Kojima

  2. National Cardiovascular Center Research Institute, Suita, Osaka, Japan

    Kenji Kangawa

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  1. Masayasu Kojima
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Correspondence to Masayasu Kojima .

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  1. Rigshospitalet, Koebenhavns Universitet, Blegdamsvej 9, Koebenhavn, 2100, Denmark

    Jens F. Rehfeld

  2. Rigshospitalet, Koebenhavns Universitet, Blegdamsvej 9, Koebenhavn OE, 2100, Denmark

    Jens R. Bundgaard

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Kojima, M., Kangawa, K. (2009). Ghrelin: From Gene to Physiological Function. In: Rehfeld, J., Bundgaard, J. (eds) Cellular Peptide Hormone Synthesis and Secretory Pathways. Results and Problems in Cell Differentiation, vol 50. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/400_2009_28

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