Cell-Specific Precursor Processing

Abstract

The singular gene for a peptide hormone is expressed not only in a specific endocrine cell type but also in other endocrine cells as well as in entirely different cells such as neurons, adipocytes, myocytes, immune cells, and cells of the sex-glands. The cellular expression pattern for each gene varies with development, time and species. Endocrine regulation is, however, based on the release of a given hormone from an endocrine cell to the general circulation from whose cappilaries the hormone reaches the specific target cell elsewhere in the body. The widespread expression of hormone genes in different cells and tissues therefore requires control of biogenesis and secretion in order to avoid interference with the function of a specific hormonal peptide from a particular endocrine cell. Several mechanisms are involved in such control, one of them being cell-specific processing of prohormones. The following pages present four examples of such cell-specific processing and the implications of the phenomenon for the use of peptide hormones as markers of diseases. Notably, sick cells - not least the neoplastic cells - often process prohormones in a manner different from that of the normal endocrine cells.

Recognition of the interaction between the bioactive peptide Val–Pro–Pro and the minimal promoter region of genes SOD and CAT using QCM-D and docking studies

“…These bioactive peptides with short sequences are used as biomaterials for tissue engineering, regenerative medicine, and peptide hormones, even with anticancer activity. [2][3][4][5] It has been reported that bioactive peptides play a very important role in the regulation of physiological functions such as oxidative stress, hypertension, thrombosis, cancer, bacterial infections, inammation, diabetes, obesity, hypercholesterolemia, immunoregulation, binding of minerals and opioid activities. 6 Bioactive peptides can be obtained from animal, plant and microbial proteins.…”

Influence of Peptide Bioregulators on Indicators of Hemostasis in Blood of Irradiated Experimental Animals at Low Altitude Conditions

“…Much attention in modern biology and medicine is paid to studying the involvement of peptidic nature's substances in regulating the hemostasis of some cell populations and their role as signaling molecules providing communicative links in normal and pathological conditions (1,2). Such studies include various works on the primary participants in the blood coagulation system and their functioning (3), mechanisms of platelet activation (4), as well as the interaction between them (5) and active agents during thrombosis and thrombo-inflammation (6).…”