Melanocyte stimulating hormone and melanin concentrating hormone may be structurally and evolutionarily related

Ana Maria de L. Castrucci, Mac E. Hadley, Michal Lebl, Christian Zechel, Victor J. Hruby

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

16 Scopus citations

Abstract

Two melanotropic peptides, melanin concentrating hormone (MCH) and α-melanocyte stimulating hormone (α-MSH), exert opposing actions on melanosome (melanin granule) movements within teleost pigment cells, melanocytes (melanophores). MCH stimulates melanosome aggregation to the cell center whereas α-MSH stimulates pigment organelle dispersion out into the dendritic processes of the melanocytes. The actions of α-MSH are dependent upon extracellular calcium (Ca2+), whereas those of MCH are actually enhanced in the absence of the cation. At high concentrations (10-5-10-8 M) MCH also exhibits MSH-like activity (autoantagonism), an effect which is abolished in the absence of Ca2+. Therefore, MCH exhibits MCH-like as well as MSH-like activity depending on the presence or absence of extracellular Ca2+. An analogue of MCH, [Ala5, Cys10]MCH, has been synthesized which is totally devoid of MCH activity but still exhibits MSH-like activity. These results suggest that the two melanotropic peptides share some component of structural similarity and may be evolutionarily related.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)27-35
Number of pages9
JournalRegulatory Peptides
Volume24
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - Jan 1989

Keywords

  • Melanosome
  • Melanotropic peptide
  • Melanotropin

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Biochemistry
  • Physiology
  • Endocrinology
  • Clinical Biochemistry
  • Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience

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