ACTH
ACTH (adrenocorticotrophin) is a peptide hormone released by proteolytic processing of pro-opiomelanocortin, the secreted POMC precursor encoded by the POMC gene. The precursor, also known by the aliases MSH, POC, CLIP, NPP and LPH, gives rise to several bioactive peptides, including endogenous opiates. Browse Assay Genie's current range of ACTH research reagents below, or read on for the biology behind the target.
ACTH is produced from pro-opiomelanocortin (POMC), a preproprotein that undergoes extensive, tissue-specific post-translational processing. Subtilisin-like enzymes called prohormone convertases cleave it at up to eight potential sites. Depending on tissue type and the convertases available, processing can yield as many as ten biologically active peptides with diverse cellular functions. UniProt describes the protein as an endogenous opiate, and it is a secreted product.
The POMC protein is synthesised mainly in corticotroph cells of the anterior pituitary, where four cleavage sites are used. Adrenocorticotrophin, which is essential for normal steroidogenesis and the maintenance of normal adrenal weight, and beta-lipotropin are the major end products. In other tissues, including the hypothalamus, placenta and epithelium, all cleavage sites may be used. This produces peptides with roles in pain and energy homeostasis, melanocyte stimulation and immune modulation, among them several distinct melanotropins, lipotropins and endorphins contained within the ACTH and beta-lipotropin sequences. The antimicrobial alpha-melanotropin peptide shows antibacterial and antifungal activity.
The POMC gene belongs to the POMC family and is classed by HGNC in the neuropeptides gene group. Alternatively spliced transcript variants encode the same protein. Mutations in the gene have been associated with early onset obesity, adrenal insufficiency and red hair pigmentation. Orthologous Pomc genes are present in mouse and rat, allowing the pathway to be studied in rodent models.
ACTH is essential for normal steroidogenesis and the maintenance of normal adrenal weight, making it central to studies of adrenal function.
POMC-derived peptides contribute to energy homeostasis, and mutations in the gene are associated with early onset obesity.
Endorphins and other POMC products act as endogenous opiates with roles in pain, relevant to neuropeptide and analgesia research.
Melanotropin peptides drive melanocyte stimulation and immune modulation, and alpha-melanotropin has antibacterial and antifungal activity.
ACTH is a major end product of POMC processing in anterior pituitary corticotroph cells. It is essential for normal steroidogenesis and the maintenance of normal adrenal weight. Other POMC-derived peptides act in pain, energy homeostasis, melanocyte stimulation and immune modulation.
ACTH is one peptide cleaved from the POMC precursor, pro-opiomelanocortin. Aliases such as MSH, CLIP, LPH, NPP and POC reflect other products or historical names for the same gene. Tissue-specific prohormone convertase cleavage determines which peptides are produced.
Mouse and rat both carry a Pomc ortholog. In humans, POMC mutations have been associated with early onset obesity, adrenal insufficiency and red hair pigmentation. Check the datasheet of any product for its validated reactivity.
Other POMC-derived peptides, neuropeptides and endocrine pathway targets with products at Assay Genie.
Gene and protein annotations from HGNC, NCBI Gene and UniProt P01189; product specifications from Assay Genie datasheets.