Gonadotropin

Glycoprotein hormone
Identifiers
SymbolHormone_6
PfamPF00236
InterProIPR000476
PROSITEPDOC00623
SCOP21hcn / SCOPe / SUPFAM
Available protein structures:
Pfam  structures / ECOD  
PDBRCSB PDB; PDBe; PDBj
PDBsumstructure summary

Gonadotropins are glycoprotein hormones secreted by gonadotropic cells of the anterior pituitary of vertebrates.[1][2][3] This family includes the mammalian hormones follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH), the placental/chorionic gonadotropins, human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) and equine chorionic gonadotropin (eCG),[3] as well as at least two forms of fish gonadotropins. These hormones are central to the complex endocrine system that regulates normal growth, sexual development, and reproductive function.[4] LH and FSH are secreted by the anterior pituitary gland, while hCG and eCG are secreted by the placenta in pregnant women and mares, respectively.[5] The gonadotropins act on the gonads, controlling gamete and sex hormone production.

Gonadotropin is sometimes abbreviated Gn. The alternative spelling gonadotrophin which inaccurately implies a nourishing mechanism[6] is also used.

There are various preparations of gonadotropins for therapeutic use, mainly as fertility medication. There are also fad diet or quack preparations, which are illegal in various countries.

  1. ^ Parhar, Ishwar S. (2002). Gonadotropin-releasing Hormone: Molecules and Receptors. Amsterdam: Elsevier. ISBN 0-444-50979-8.
  2. ^ Pierce JG, Parsons TF (1981). "Glycoprotein hormones: structure and function". Annual Review of Biochemistry. 50: 465–95. doi:10.1146/annurev.bi.50.070181.002341. PMID 6267989.
  3. ^ a b Stockell Hartree A, Renwick AG (November 1992). "Molecular structures of glycoprotein hormones and functions of their carbohydrate components". The Biochemical Journal. 287 ( Pt 3) (Pt 3): 665–79. doi:10.1042/bj2870665. PMC 1133060. PMID 1445230.
  4. ^ Godine JE, Chin WW, Habener JF (July 1982). "alpha Subunit of rat pituitary glycoprotein hormones. Primary structure of the precursor determined from the nucleotide sequence of cloned cDNAs". The Journal of Biological Chemistry. 257 (14): 8368–71. doi:10.1016/S0021-9258(18)34340-0. PMID 6177696.
  5. ^ Golos TG, Durning M, Fisher JM (June 1991). "Molecular cloning of the rhesus glycoprotein hormone alpha-subunit gene". DNA and Cell Biology. 10 (5): 367–80. doi:10.1089/dna.1991.10.367. PMID 1713773.
  6. ^ Stewart J, Li CH (August 1962). "On the use of -tropin or -trophin in connection with anterior pituitary hormones". Science. 137 (3527): 336–7. Bibcode:1962Sci...137..336S. doi:10.1126/science.137.3527.336. PMID 13917136. S2CID 9747521.