Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
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Query: UNIPROT:P01189 (beta-endorphin)
 21,003 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

The cloning of the melanocyte-stimulating hormone (MSH) and adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) receptors (MC1-R and MC2-R, respectively) recently has led to the identification of three additional melanocortin receptors, MC3-R, MC4-R, and MC5-R. The MC2 receptor primarily recognizes only ACTH peptides, but the other four receptors all recognize alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone (alpha-MSH) and potent alpha-MSH agonists such as [Nle4,D-Phe7]alpha-MSH-NH2 and Ac-Nle4-c[Asp5,D-Phe7,Lys10]alpha-MSH-(4-10)-NH2 as well as ACTH. The absence of any known physiological role for these new receptors, expressed both in the brain (MC3-R and MC4-R) and throughout a number of peripheral tissues (MC5-R), has necessitated as search for potent and receptor selective agonists and antagonists. We report here that analogues of the superpotent cyclic agonist analogue Ac-Nle4-c[Asp5,D-Phe7, Lys10]alpha-MSH-(4-10)-NH2, in which a bulky aromatic amino acid is substituted in the 7-position, can produce potent and selective antagonists for melanocortin receptors. Thus, the D-p-iodophenylalanine7-containing analogue Ac-Nle4-c[Asp5,D-Phe(pI)7,Lys10]alpha-MSH-(4-10)-NH2 is a potent antagonist (pA2 = 10.3) in the classical frog skin (Rana pipiens) assay (MC1-R), as is the D-2'-naphthylalanine7 (D-Nal(2)7)-containing analogue Ac-Nle4-c[Asp5,D-Nal(2)7,Lys10]alpha-MSH-(4-10)-NH2 (pA2 > 10.3). Interestingly, the D-p-chloro- and D-p-fluorophenylalanine7-containing analogues lacked antagonist activities at all melanotropin receptors, and both exhibited full agonist potency in the frog skin assay. The activity of these analogues also was examined at four mammalian melanocortin receptors. Interestingly, Ac-Nle4-c[Asp5,(D-Nal(2)7,Lys10] alpha-MSH-(4-10)-NH2 was found to be a potent antagonist of the MC4-R (pA2 = 9.3) with minimal agonist activity, a less potent antagonist of the MC3-R (pA2 = 8.3) with minimal agonist activity, and a full agonist of the MC1 and MC5 receptors. Surprisingly, Nle4-c[Asp5,D-Phe(pI)7,Lys10]alpha-MSH was found to be a potent agonist at the cloned human MC1-R (EC50 = 0.055 nM) and mouse MC1-R (EC50 = 0.19 nM) but had potent antagonist activities at the human MC4-R (pA2 = 9.7) and human MC3-R (pA2 = 8.3) with significant partial agonist activities (EC50 = 0.57 and 0.68 nM, respectively) as well. Thus, highly potent and receptor selective antagonist analogues can arise from substitution of the D-Phe7 residue with a bulky aromatic amino acid. These analogues can be used to help determine the functional roles of these receptors.
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PMID:Cyclic lactam alpha-melanotropin analogues of Ac-Nle4-cyclo[Asp5, D-Phe7,Lys10] alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone-(4-10)-NH2 with bulky aromatic amino acids at position 7 show high antagonist potency and selectivity at specific melanocortin receptors. 765 32

The DNAs encoding three melanocortin receptor subtypes (melanocortin MC1 receptor, melanocortin MC3 receptor and melanocortin MC5 receptor) were expressed individually in COS (CV-1 Origin, SV40) cells to characterise their ligand binding properties. The results indicated that [125I][Nle4, D-Phe7]alpha-MSH (melanocyte stimulating hormone) bound to a single saturable site with Kd values of 85.1 +/- 8.0 pmol/l (mean +/- S.E.M), 396 +/- 65 pmol/l and 5.05 +/- 1.00 nmol/l for melanocortin MC1 receptor, melanocortin MC3 receptor and melanocortin MC3 receptor, respectively. The melanocortin MC1 receptor and the melanocortin MC5 receptor showed a similar potency order to the melanocortic peptides examined which was markedly different from the potency order of the melanocortin MC3 receptor. The melanocortin MC1 receptor and melanocortin MC5 receptor had a relatively higher affinity for alpha-MSH than gamma-MSH and beta-MSH, whereas the melanocortin MC3 receptor had higher affinity for desacetyl-alpha-MSH, gamma-MSH and beta-MSH compared to alpha-MSH. The inclusion of the endopeptidase inhibitor phosphoramidon to prevent the breakdown of ACTH-(1-39) (adrenocorticotrophic hormone) to alpha-MSH, decreased ACTH-(1-39) binding affinity showing that ACTH-(1-39) had a much lower affinity for melanocortin MC1 receptor than reported earlier.
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PMID:Characterisation of melanocortin receptor subtypes by radioligand binding analysis. 777 75

Melanocortins (MCs) have various physiological actions on the brain. The recent cloning of neural MC receptors opened new avenues to study the effects of these neuropeptides on the nervous system. Here we investigated the structure-activity relationships (SARs) of peptides derived from adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) with cloned MC3 and MC4 receptors in vitro and correlated these with central effects of MCs in vivo. Analysis of the effects of various MC peptides on cAMP accumulation in and binding to cells that expressed either the rat MC3 receptor or the human MC4 receptor demonstrated that ACTH-4-9-NH2 was the core sequence of ACTH able to activate these receptors. Furthermore, gamma-melanocyte-stimulating hormone (MSH) displayed selectivity for the MC3 receptor, whereas [D-Phe7]ACTH-4-10 more efficiently activated the MC4 receptor than the MC3 receptor. The activities of MC fragments that lacked the three carboxyl-terminal amino acids (residues 11-13) of ACTH-1-13 were much lower than that of alpha-MSH, for both receptors. Furthermore, the three amino-terminal amino acids (residues 1-3) of alpha-MSH were more important for full activation of the MC4 receptor, compared with the MC3 receptor. The SAR for the MC4 receptor resembled that for the induction of excessive grooming behavior by MC peptides. Therefore, we suggest that this behavioral response is mediated by MC4 receptors. The SAR for the MC3 receptor did not overlap with that for in vivo effects of MCs. ORG2766, an ACTH-4-9 analog that is very potent in an active avoidance task, did not activate, antagonize, or bind to the MC3 and MC4 receptors. This suggests the presence of still other MC receptors, in addition to the MC3 and MC4 receptors, in the brain. These data identify peptides with selectivity for either the MC3 receptor or the MC4 receptor, which may be used for development of novel MC receptor-specific ligands. Furthermore, this is the first report that discusses behavioral effects of MCs in light of data on cloned MC receptors.
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PMID:Differential effects of melanocortin peptides on neural melanocortin receptors. 780 40

POMC, the precursor of ACTH, MSH, and beta-endorphin peptides, is expressed in the pituitary and in two sites in the brain, in the arcuate nucleus of the hypothalamus and the commissural nucleus of the solitary tract of the brain stem. Little is known regarding the functions of melanocortin (ACTH and MSH) peptides in the brain. We report here the detailed neuroanatomical distribution of the MC4-R mRNA in the adult rat brain. The melanocortin 3 receptor (MC3-R), characterized previously, was found to be expressed in arcuate nucleus neurons and in a subset of their presumptive terminal fields but in few regions of the brainstem. The highly conserved MC4-R is much more widely expressed than MC3-R and is pharmacologically distinct. MC4-R mRNA was found in multiple sites in virtually every brain region, including the cortex, thalamus, hypothalamus, brainstem, and spinal cord. Unlike the MC3-R, MC4-R mRNA is found in both parvicellular and magnocellular neurons of the paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus, suggesting a role in the central control of pituitary function. MC4-R is also unique in its expression in numerous cortical and brainstem nuclei. Together, MC3-R and/or MC-4R mRNA are found in every nucleus reported to bind MSH in the adult rat brain and define neuronal circuitry known to be involved in the control of diverse neuroendocrine and autonomic functions. The high degree of conservation, distinct pharmacology, and unique neuronal distribution of the MC4 receptor suggest specific and complex roles for the melanocortin peptides in neuroendocrine and autonomic control.
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PMID:Localization of the melanocortin-4 receptor (MC4-R) in neuroendocrine and autonomic control circuits in the brain. 785 47

Antagonists for the melanocortin receptor family were identified by analysis of the effects of four melanocortin analogues on alpha-MSH(alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone)-induced cAMP accumulation in 293 human embryonal kidney (HEK) cells that expressed either the rat melanocortin MC3 receptor, the human melanocortin MC4 receptor or the ovine melanocortin MC5 receptor. Two peptides, [D-Arg8]ACTH(adrenocorticotrope hormone)-(4-10) and [Pro8,10,Gly9]ACTH-(4-10), antagonized the action of alpha-MSH on the melanocortin MC4 and MC5 receptors, but not the melanocortin MC3 receptor. [Ala6]ACTH-(4-10) inhibited the alpha-MSH activation of the melanocortin MC3 and MC5, but only weakly antagonized the activation of the melanocortin MC4 receptor. [Phe-I7]ACTH-(4-10) antagonized the melanocortin MC3, MC4 and MC5 receptors equally well. These antagonists were also tested to block a behavioral response induced by alpha-MSH. alpha-MSH-induced excessive grooming behavior in rats was inhibited by [Phe-I7]ACTH-(4-10), [D-Arg8]ACTH-(4-10) and [Pro8,10,Gly9]ACTH-(4-10), but not by [Ala6]ACTH-(4-10). This suggests that alpha-MSH-induced excessive grooming behavior is mediated by melanocortin MC4 receptors.
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PMID:Identification of antagonists for melanocortin MC3, MC4 and MC5 receptors. 789 72

Membrane preparations of cells expressing the cloned rat hypothalamus melanocortin receptor, MC3, have been photoaffinity labelled using a radiolabelled photoreactive analogue of alpha-MSH, [125I-Tyr2,Nle4,D-Phe7,ATB-Lys11]alpha-MSH. SDS-PAGE followed by autoradiography showed a single band at 53-56 kDa for the native receptor or 35 kDa after deglycosylated with PNGase F, consistent with the predicted cDNA sequence. Receptor binding studies with alpha-MSH, gamma-MSH and [Nle4,D-Phe7]alpha-MSH established that alpha-MSH and gamma-MSH had similar affinities while [Nle4,D-Phe7]alpha-MSH bound 100 times more strongly. These results suggest that the receptor recognises the conserved 'core sequence' (-Met-Glu/Gly-His-Phe-Arg-Trp-) of MSH/ACTH peptides. The binding affinities of alanine-substituted analogues of alpha-MSH were determined to investigate the role of individual residues in ligand-receptor interactions. While in the terminal regions only the replacement of Tyr2 reduced the affinity of the peptide, replacement of Met4, Phe7, Arg8 and Trp9 within the peptide core led to a significant loss of affinity. Glu5 appeared unimportant for receptor recognition.
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PMID:The melanocortin (MC3) receptor from rat hypothalamus: photoaffinity labelling and binding of alanine-substituted alpha-MSH analogues. 806 18

A mouse genomic clone named HGMP01B has been isolated by homology screening with a probe representing part of the human melanocortin 3 receptor gene. HGMP01B was found to encode a 325 amino acid protein with all the landmarks of G-protein-coupled receptors and belonging to the growing melanocortin receptor family. This receptor displays four potential sites for N-linked glycosylation and five potential sites of phosphorylation by protein kinase C. The HGMP01B gene was found to be expressed in many tissues, including skin, adrenal gland, skeletal muscle, bone marrow, spleen, thymus, gonads, uterus, and brain. A stable Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cell line expressing approximately 10,000 receptors per cell was established. This cell line displayed a saturable binding capacity for the radioiodinated alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone (alpha-MSH) analog [Nle4,D-Phe7]-alpha-MSH (NDP-MSH) with an apparent Kd of 1.47 +/- 0.15 nM. Binding of the labeled ligand was competed for by all melanocortin peptides, except beta-endorphin or corticotropin-like intermediate lobe peptide (CLIP). NDP-MSH was the most powerful competitor, followed by alpha-MSH, adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), beta-MSH, the gamma-MSHs, and ACTH 4-10. Functional assays confirmed that HGMP01B, like other melanocortin receptors, stimulated adenylyl cyclase. The potency order obtained in these cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) accumulation assays was consistent with that of the binding studies. HGMP01B therefore appears as a fifth melanocortin receptor (MC5), responding mainly to alpha-MSH (EC50 = 1.07 +/- 0.13 nM) and endowed with a pharmacological profile similar to that of the melanocyte MSH (MC1) receptor, but characterized by a broad tissue distribution.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
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PMID:Molecular cloning of a mouse melanocortin 5 receptor gene widely expressed in peripheral tissues. 816 9

We describe the cloning of the mouse HGMP01A gene that encodes a melanocortin receptor functionally distinct from the adrenal cortex corticotropin (adrenocorticotrophic hormone; ACTH) receptor and the melanocyte-stimulating hormone (MSH) receptor expressed in melanoma. The gene encodes a protein of 323 amino acids with a calculated molecular mass of 35,800 Da, displaying potential sites for N-linked glycosylation and phosphorylation by protein kinase C. An RNAase protection assay detected weak expression in the brain, but not in adrenal gland, skin, or any of the other tissues tested. Stable CHO cell lines expressing over 100,000 receptors per cell were generated. The recombinant receptor binds iodinated [Nle4,D-Phe7]alpha-MSH (NDP-MSH) with an apparent Kd of 700 pM. Displacement of the ligand by a variety of pro-opiomelanocortin-derived peptides revealed a pharmacological profile distinct from that of the classical ACTH and MSH receptors. NDP-MSH was the most powerful competitor (IC50 1.4 nM), followed by gamma-MSH (IC50 7 nM). alpha-MSH, beta-MSH and ACTH-(1-39) were significantly less potent, with IC50 values of 30, 19 and 21 nM respectively. ACTH-(4-10) was poorly active (IC50 2.4 microM), while corticotropin-like intermediate lobe peptide (CLIP) and beta-endorphin were totally ineffective. The recombinant receptor was found to stimulate adenylate cyclase. The potency order of the agonists in this assay was consistent with that of the binding displacement assays. This receptor represents the orthologue of the human melanocortin 3 receptor reported recently. The growing family of melanocortin receptors constitute the molecular basis for the variety of actions of melanocortins that have been described over the years. The availability of functionally expressed receptors from the melanocortin family will allow the development of a specific pharmacology, and a better understanding of the function of the pro-opiomelanocortin-derived peptides.
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PMID:Molecular cloning, functional expression and pharmacological characterization of a mouse melanocortin receptor gene. 817 96

The existence of multiple brain melanocortin receptor types has been postulated, based on the complex pharmacology of intracerebrally administered melanocortin (melanocyte-stimulating hormone-related) peptides. In this study, this hypothesis was tested by determining whether different brain melanocortin receptor populations can be discriminated on a pharmacologic or neuroanatomic basis. The abilities of various pharmacologically active native melanocortins and structural analogs, as well as other test substances, to compete with biologically active [125I]Nle4,D-Phe7-alpha-MSH ([125I]NDP-MSH) for binding to melanocortin receptors was determined, by in vitro binding and autoradiography in frozen rat brain tissue sections. We have previously shown that native melanocortins including alpha-MSH, gamma-MSH and ACTH1-39 compete with [125I]NDP-MSH for binding to brain tissue sites. In the present studies, each of the melanocortin peptides alpha-MSH, des-acetyl-alpha-MSH, beta-MSH and ACTH1-24 when present at 1 microM virtually eliminated [125I]NDP-MSH binding in each of a series of brain structures, including medial preoptic area, caudate putamen, olfactory tubercle, bed nucleus of the stria terminalis, ventral part of the lateral septal nucleus, hypothalamic periventricular and paraventricular nuclei, dorsal anterior amygdaloid area, substantia innominata and thalamic paraventricular nucleus; as well as in extraorbital lacrimal gland, a peripheral melanocortin target. In contrast, the behaviorally and neurotrophically active melanocortin analogs Met(O2),D-Lys,Phe9-alpha-MSH4-9 (Org2766), ACTH4-9, and the antipyretic peptide alpha-MSH11-13 did not affect [125I]NDP-MSH binding at concentrations up to 100 microM, implying that the receptors or receptor binding sites which mediate the actions of these analogs must comprise additional types, distinct from those which bind [125I]NDP-MSH. Binding of [125I]NDP-MSH was also unaffected by the nonmelanotropic peptides ACTH1-4, ACTH34-39 and vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP) and by the antipyretic drugs acetaminophen and lysine-salicylate. Although some of the brain structures are known to express mRNA encoding a gamma-MSH-preferring melanocortin receptor type known as MC3, the relative order of binding affinities of melanocortins, determined in concentration-response studies, was NDP-MSH > or = ACTH1-24 > or = alpha-MSH > gamma-MSH > ACTH4-10 in all brain structures. This suggests that other melanocortin receptor type(s) in addition to MC3 probably account for most of the [125I]NDP-MSH binding detectable in the brain.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)
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PMID:Heterogeneity of brain melanocortin receptors suggested by differential ligand binding in situ. 817 50

Corticotropin (ACTH) and melanotropin (MSH) peptides (melanocortins) are produced not only in the pituitary but also in the brain, with highest concentrations in the arcuate nucleus of the hypothalamus and the commisural nucleus of the solitary tract. We have identified a receptor for MSH and ACTH peptides that is specifically expressed in regions of the hypothalamus and limbic system. This melanocortin receptor (MC3-R) is found in neurons of the arcuate nucleus known to express proopiomelanocortin (POMC) and in a subset of the nuclei to which these neurons send projections. The MC3-R is 43% identical to the MSH receptor present in melanocytes and is strongly coupled to adenylyl cyclase. Unlike the MSH or ACTH receptors, MC3-R is potently activated by gamma-MSH peptides, POMC products that were named for their amino acid homology with alpha- and beta-MSH, but lack melanotropic activity. The primary biological role of the gamma-MSH peptides is not yet understood. The location and properties of this receptor provide a pharmacological basis for the action of POMC peptides produced in the brain and possibly a specific physiological role for gamma-MSH.
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PMID:Identification of a receptor for gamma melanotropin and other proopiomelanocortin peptides in the hypothalamus and limbic system. 841 20


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