BIOSYNTHESIS AND MATURATION OF PRO-OPIOMELANOCORTIN

Pituitary pro-opiomelanocortin (POMC), the precursor form of ACTH and β-endorphin (β-END) rapidly matures into these hormones with the liberation of a series of γ-MSH containing glycopeptides. In the human, fragments 1–76 and C-terminal amidated 79–108 are formed; in the hog pars distalis three fragments 1–80, 1–107 and C-terminal amidated 1–61 are obtained. At least two POMC mRNA translation products isolated from hog pars intermedia are observed.