| Description | two precursor s of 117 and 116 amino acids encoding preproGhrelin/MTLRP and prepro-des-Gln14-Ghrelin/ delta Gln14 MTLRP, respectively. The 28 amino-acids Ghrelin/MTLRP and the 27 amino-acids des-Gln14-Ghrelin/delta Gln14 MTLRP are modified post-translationally by the addition of a n-octanoic acid on Serine 3. The 28 amino acids Ghrelin/MTLRP is produced from a protein precursor of 117 residues that contains a signal peptide from residues 1to 23, the ghrelin/MTLRP moity from residues 24 to 51, the MTLRP-associated peptide moity from residues 52 to 117. The 27 amino acids des-Gln14-Ghrelin/delta Gln 14 MTLRP is produced from a protein precursor of 116 residues identical to the 117 aa precursor excep that the des-Gln14-Ghrelin/delta Gln14 MTLRP moity corresponds to residues 24 to 50 and accordingly the MTLRP-associated peptide moity from resisues 51 to 116. |
| Expression | Ghrelin/MTLRP is mainly expressed by the enteroendocrine cells of the stomach; its expression decreased gradually along the gastro-intestinal tract and a faint expression was also detected in testis. By Immnunochemistry Ghrelin-immuno reactive neurons were found in the hypothalamic arcuate nucleus. |
| Localisation | As a peptide hormone Ghrelin/MTLRP is secreted in the blood. |
| Function | As the endogenous ligand of the growth hormone secretagogues (GHS) receptor, Ghrelin/MTLRP is involved in the pulsatile secretion of Growth hormone. In addition to this role Ghrelin/MTLRP is in the regulation of feeding. In rodent In contrast to leptin, Ghrelin/MTLRP promotes food intake and obesity. In addition Ghrelin/MTLRP stimulates motricity of the gastrointestinal tract and acid secretion. |
| Homology | ppGhrelin/MTLRP share 47% of similarity with the precursor of Motilin. In addition Ghrelin receptor (GHS-R) and Motilin receptor (GPR38) share 52% identity. |
| Ghrelin is a growth-hormone-releasing acylated peptide from stomach. |
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