Human growth hormone: Difference between revisions
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'''Human growth hormone''' (hGH) plays a vital role in growth and development. It is naturally produced by somatotropic cells in the anterior pituitary gland. The [[hormone]] is produced as a 217 amino acid precursor protein. The 26 N-terminal amino acids correspond to a signal peptide, which is essential for hormone secretion. This signal peptide is cleaved during the secretion process to yield the mature, 191 amino acid form of hGH. | '''Human growth hormone''' (hGH) plays a vital role in growth and development. It is naturally produced by somatotropic cells in the anterior pituitary gland. The [[hormone]] is produced as a 217 amino acid precursor protein. The 26 N-terminal amino acids correspond to a signal peptide, which is essential for hormone secretion. This signal peptide is cleaved during the secretion process to yield the mature, 191 amino acid form of hGH. | ||
Mature hGH travels through the bloodstream and interacts with a specific hGH-receptor on the surface of various cells, including muscle, bone, and cartilage. Binding of hGH to its receptor causes dimerization and signal transduction, which ultimately stimulates cellular division. HGH also indirectly influences growth by stimulating the liver to produce additional growth factors, such as insulin-like growth factor-1. Synthetic versions of hGH produced by recombinant DNA technology are used to treat growth disorders associated with hGH deficiencies. | Mature hGH travels through the bloodstream and interacts with a specific hGH-receptor on the surface of various cells, including muscle, bone, and cartilage. Binding of hGH to its receptor causes dimerization and signal transduction, which ultimately stimulates cellular division. HGH also indirectly influences growth by stimulating the liver to produce additional growth factors, such as insulin-like growth factor-1. Synthetic versions of hGH produced by recombinant DNA technology are used to treat growth disorders associated with hGH deficiencies. [[Prolactin receptor]] (PRLR) can also bind to and be activated by growth hormone. | ||
==Location in the Body== | ==Location in the Body== | ||