Biomaterial Database

Glycoprotein hormones: glycobiology of gonadotrophins, thyrotrophin and free alpha subunit. 1995

N R Thotakura, and D L Blithe

Molecular and Cellular Endocrinology Branch, National Institute of Diabetes, Digestive and Kidney Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA.

Chorionic gonadotrophin and pituitary luteinizing hormone, follicle-stimulating hormone and thyroid-stimulating hormone comprise the family of glycoprotein hormones, which regulate major metabolic and reproductive functions of the body. These are heterodimeric glycoproteins composed of a common alpha subunit and a hormone-specific beta subunit. The N-linked oligosaccharides of these hormones are necessary for proper folding, assembly, secretion, metabolic clearance and biological activity. The free alpha subunit, which is shown to have a physiological function, is maintained in the uncombined form due to its glycan structures. The N-glycans of the glycoprotein hormones contain a variety of terminal residues, which are responsible for the differential targeting and clearance of the hormones. Glycosylation of these hormones is regulated by a variety of physiological and pathological conditions, leading to subtle alterations in their bioactivities. Recent studies on the structures and specific functions of different glycans of natural and recombinant glycoprotein hormones have provided valuable insight into the glycobiology of these hormones. This information will be useful in the development of diagnostic and therapeutic applications of the glycoprotein hormones.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D008657	Metabolic Clearance Rate	Volume of biological fluid completely cleared of drug metabolites as measured in unit time. Elimination occurs as a result of metabolic processes in the kidney, liver, saliva, sweat, intestine, heart, brain, or other site.	Total Body Clearance Rate,Clearance Rate, Metabolic,Clearance Rates, Metabolic,Metabolic Clearance Rates,Rate, Metabolic Clearance,Rates, Metabolic Clearance
D008969	Molecular Sequence Data	Descriptions of specific amino acid, carbohydrate, or nucleotide sequences which have appeared in the published literature and/or are deposited in and maintained by databanks such as GENBANK, European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL), National Biomedical Research Foundation (NBRF), or other sequence repositories.	Sequence Data, Molecular,Molecular Sequencing Data,Data, Molecular Sequence,Data, Molecular Sequencing,Sequencing Data, Molecular
D009844	Oligosaccharides	Carbohydrates consisting of between two (DISACCHARIDES) and ten MONOSACCHARIDES connected by either an alpha- or beta-glycosidic link. They are found throughout nature in both the free and bound form.	Oligosaccharide
D002240	Carbohydrate Sequence	The sequence of carbohydrates within POLYSACCHARIDES; GLYCOPROTEINS; and GLYCOLIPIDS.	Carbohydrate Sequences,Sequence, Carbohydrate,Sequences, Carbohydrate
D006023	Glycoproteins	Conjugated protein-carbohydrate compounds including MUCINS; mucoid, and AMYLOID glycoproteins.	C-Glycosylated Proteins,Glycosylated Protein,Glycosylated Proteins,N-Glycosylated Proteins,O-Glycosylated Proteins,Glycoprotein,Neoglycoproteins,Protein, Glycosylated,Proteins, C-Glycosylated,Proteins, Glycosylated,Proteins, N-Glycosylated,Proteins, O-Glycosylated
D006031	Glycosylation	The synthetic chemistry reaction or enzymatic reaction of adding carbohydrate or glycosyl groups. GLYCOSYLTRANSFERASES carry out the enzymatic glycosylation reactions. The spontaneous, non-enzymatic attachment of reducing sugars to free amino groups in proteins, lipids, or nucleic acids is called GLYCATION (see MAILLARD REACTION).	Protein Glycosylation,Glycosylation, Protein
D006062	Gonadotropins	Hormones that stimulate gonadal functions such as GAMETOGENESIS and sex steroid hormone production in the OVARY and the TESTIS. Major gonadotropins are glycoproteins produced primarily by the adenohypophysis (GONADOTROPINS, PITUITARY) and the placenta (CHORIONIC GONADOTROPIN). In some species, pituitary PROLACTIN and PLACENTAL LACTOGEN exert some luteotropic activities.	Gonadotropin
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000595	Amino Acid Sequence	The order of amino acids as they occur in a polypeptide chain. This is referred to as the primary structure of proteins. It is of fundamental importance in determining PROTEIN CONFORMATION.	Protein Structure, Primary,Amino Acid Sequences,Sequence, Amino Acid,Sequences, Amino Acid,Primary Protein Structure,Primary Protein Structures,Protein Structures, Primary,Structure, Primary Protein,Structures, Primary Protein
D000818	Animals	Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA.	Animal,Metazoa,Animalia