PMCH
PMCH (pro-melanin concentrating hormone, Pro-MCH) is the secreted precursor of a family of neuropeptides that includes melanin-concentrating hormone (MCH). Its products modulate stress-related neuroendocrine responses and behaviours, and MCH itself stimulates hunger. Browse Assay Genie's current range of PMCH research reagents below, or read on for the biology behind the target.
PMCH encodes a preproprotein that is proteolytically processed into several products. These include melanin-concentrating hormone (MCH), neuropeptide-glutamic acid-isoleucine (NEI) and neuropeptide-glycine-glutamic acid (NGE). The precursor, Pro-MCH, is a secreted protein and belongs to the melanin-concentrating hormone family.
Functionally, the peptides derived from Pro-MCH act as neuropeptides that modulate stress-related neuroendocrine responses and behaviours. MCH is a 19-amino acid neuropeptide that stimulates hunger and may also regulate energy homeostasis, reproductive function and sleep. Other products of the precursor stimulate ACTH secretion, functionally counteracting the ACTH-suppressing action of MCH, although the underlying mechanism is not fully characterised. Pro-MCH-derived peptides also reduce dopamine and DOPAC release in the ventromedial nucleus, and in vitro they influence the differentiation of neuronal processes and affect neurofilament protein content.
The PMCH gene is classed by HGNC within the neuropeptides gene group, and it has the alias MCH and the previous name pro-melanin-concentrating hormone. Pseudogenes of this gene have been identified on chromosome 5. Orthologues are annotated in mouse and rat, both named Pmch, which allows the pathway to be studied in rodent models.
MCH, processed from Pro-MCH, stimulates hunger and may regulate energy homeostasis, making PMCH a focus for appetite research.
Pro-MCH products modulate stress-related neuroendocrine responses and stimulate ACTH secretion, counteracting the ACTH-suppressing action of MCH.
MCH may additionally regulate sleep and reproductive function, so PMCH expression and processing are relevant to these physiological studies.
Pro-MCH-derived peptides influence differentiation of neuronal processes and neurofilament protein content in vitro, and reduce dopamine and DOPAC release in the ventromedial nucleus.
PMCH encodes Pro-MCH, a precursor processed into MCH, NEI and NGE. These neuropeptides modulate stress-related neuroendocrine responses and behaviours. MCH stimulates hunger and may regulate energy homeostasis, reproductive function and sleep, while other products stimulate ACTH secretion.
PMCH stands for pro-melanin concentrating hormone and is also written Pro-MCH. HGNC lists the alias MCH and the previous name pro-melanin-concentrating hormone. Note that MCH also refers to the 19-amino acid mature peptide produced from the precursor by proteolytic processing.
Yes. Mouse and rat both carry a Pmch ortholog, so the gene can be studied in rodent models of feeding, stress and sleep. Check the datasheet of any product for its validated reactivity before choosing a species.
Other neuropeptides, precursors and feeding-related targets with products at Assay Genie.
Gene and protein annotations from HGNC, NCBI Gene and UniProt P20382; product specifications from Assay Genie datasheets.