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The Acth Axis: Pathogenesis, Diagnosis and Treatment pp 85–107Cite as

ACTH Precursors in Different Pathological Conditions

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Part of the book series: Endocrine Updates ((ENDO,volume 21))

Abstract

ACTH is synthesised as part of a 31kD, pro-hormone, proopiomelano — cortin (POMC), and the processing of POMC is tightly regulated in a tissue specific manner. The POMC processing pathway (seeFigure 1) has been best characterised in the anterior pituitary (1). POMC is processed to proACTH (containing N-POMC, joining peptide and ACTH) and beta-lipotrophin (betaLPH). Subsequently cleavage at the N-terminal of ACTH yields (bioactive) ACTH (2).

Pro-opiomelanocortin processing to ACTH and related peptides. βLPH is βlipotrophin, N-POMC is the N-terminal POMC peptide JP is joining peptide, CLIP is corticotrophin-like intermediate lobe peptide, beta-End is beta-endorphin. PC1 and PC2 are the prohormone convertases which cleave at the sites indicated.

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  1. Endocrine Sciences Research Group, University of Manchester, Manchester

    Anne White & David Ray

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  1. Anne White
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  1. Division of Endocrinology, Diabetology & Metabolism, University Hospital (CHUV), Lausanne, Switzerland

    Rolf C. Gaillard M.D.

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White, A., Ray, D. (2003). ACTH Precursors in Different Pathological Conditions. In: Gaillard, R.C. (eds) The Acth Axis: Pathogenesis, Diagnosis and Treatment. Endocrine Updates, vol 21. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4615-0501-3_5

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